If anything, Holder's speech at Northwestern only made it clear that ultimately, the power to target suspected terrorists lies with the executive branch of government. more ›

The Costs of War can't be measured in dollars and cents, nor dollars and sense. more ›

President Obama laid out his plan for troop withdrawal in Afghanistan last night. more ›

President Obama announced today that his plans to draw down combat forces in Iraq by August 31st, 2010 are on schedule. In a speech to the Disabled Veterans of America in Atlanta, Obama said “Already, we have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases. We’re moving out millions of pieces of equipment in one of the largest logistics operations that we’ve seen in decades.” By the deadline, U.S. Forces will number 50,000 - a reduction of 94,000 since Obama took office according to the Tribune. At present, there are nearly 65,000 soldiers in Iraq. This does not include contractors however, which number more than 100,000. more ›

Some sad news to start off the Friday morning. Army Spc. Kyle J. Wright, 22, of Romeoville was killed in Afghanistan earlier this week according to his family. Wright - a member of the 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division based in Washington - died when the vehicle he was driving struck an improvised explosive device (IED) near Kandahar. [ABC 7] more ›

The U.S. Senate spent the weekend in session, appropriating $626 billion to the Department of Defense for the remaining 10 months of the 2010 budget. The bill includes $128 billion for “ongoing contingency operations” in both Iraq and Afghanistan. That figure, however, does not factor in the new 30,000 troop surge in Afghanistan, which could potentially be as much as $40 billion. more ›

One night after President Obama made his speech calling for an extra 30,000 troops in Afghanistan, anti-war activists gathered in Federal Plaza to protest the war. Last night, about 200 people braved the chilly weather to voice their opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The demonstration began with a mock wedding turned die-in, where demonstrators fell to the ground after a mock predator drone attack. One demonstrator stated, “This is a war crime. It was a war crime then and it is a war crime now.” more ›

President Obama addressed the nation last night on his plans for the War in Afghanistan, speaking from West Point. He began with a brief history lesson, running down the conflict's connection to the 9/11 attacks, and acknowledging the distracting effect that Iraq has had on prosecuting this war, before moving into the broad terms of how his administration will bring the war in Afghanistan "to a successful conclusion." He laid out three parts to his strategy, videlicet that the U.S. will pursue a military strategy intended to break the Taliban and strengthen Afghanistan over the next 18 months; that the U.S. will work with our allies, the UN, and Afghanis for a civilian strategy that allow the Afghani government to take advantage of improved security in the region; and embracing a broader role with Pakistan as a key partner in Afghanistan's future security. And, always a fan of multi-pronged rhetorical flourishes, Obama took on critiques of the war in three-part form as well, contending that it was not another Vietnam, that maintaining current troop levels will not work, and that open-ended commitments will not be tolerated by his administration. more ›

With his handling of the War in Afghanistan coming under scrutiny, President Obama made a surprise trip this morning to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to meet the caskets of the 18 soldiers killed in action over the last week; October 2009 has been the deadliest month for U.S. troops thus far in the eight-year war; as of Tuesday, the death toll was 55. Upon arrival, around 3 a.m., Obama met with the families of the soldiers in the base's chapel and then observed the transfer of caskets. Reporters and photographers were given permission to view the transfer of the casket of Sgt. Dale Griffin (of Terre Haute, Indiana) by Griffin's family. Obama returned to the White House shortly before 5 a.m. more ›

Craigslist buyers uncovered a scam by people pretending to be Illinois National Guardsmen who need to sell big ticket items like cars and boats in a hurry before they're deployed overseas. After receiving several calls, the Illinois National Guard verified that the names of the sellers on Craigslist were bogus according to Chicago Breaking News. Guard spokesman Michael Chrisman said the verbiage is almost the same in every ad, only the type of vehicle for sale is different. more ›

The Tribune's James Janega was embedded with the Illinois National Guard in Afghanistan and just recently returned home to Chicago. Today's he's filed this outstanding story and you can catch up on more of James' stuff (accompanied Tribune photographer Jason Wambsgans) here at the Afghan War Blog. more ›

• Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of two Illinois National Guardsmen who were killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb this weekend.
• The saga of Daniel Fore continues in Oak Park; Fore is a homeless man attempting to get his name on the ballot for village trustee.
• More bad job news, this time from the Tribune (again).

Our condolences to the family of Bartlett's Sgt. Kevin Grieco, 35, who was one of two soldiers killed by a suicide bomb Monday in in Baghlan, Afghanistan. Sgt. Grieco was part of the 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard, Sycamore. It was that unit's third death this fall. Kevin is survived by his wife and two young children. more ›

Joshua Harris, 21, of Oak Park and Jason Vazquez, 24, of Chicago, members of the Illinois National Guard, were killed earlier this week in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. Both were posthumously promoted. Said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, "This is, by far, one of the most difficult and saddest times for the Illinois National Guard. This loss is felt by us all, both overseas and here at home." Harris and Vazquez joined Carol Stream's Pfc. Leonard Gulczynski (Iraq) as Illinois' war casualties this week. Harris and Vazquez were both part of Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery, providing security for police mentor teams in Afghanistan. Illinois Senator (and Democratic Presidential Candidate) Barack Obama paid tribute to the soldiers, saying, "These brave young men served their nation proudly and honorably in Afghanistan and Iraq." Our condolences to the families of these brave soldiers. more ›