had of those 23 graduates, for went to the afghan air force. them in a specialized english language training program. of the 42 that are in the program, those four women are in the top seven of grades for the 42 batters in their credit they are doing exceptionally well. they are extremely motivated and want to be a part of this to serve their country. we have our second class that just graduated, at 32. we have our third class that will start on july 2. we are slowly increasing the size as you're able to recruit women you are able to come in and serve. the other thing we did with then the police force, the minister of interior has agreed that he will at 1000 additional women into the police force each year. bair just over 1000 and the police force now. over the next five years, the goal is to add a thousand more a year. they are moving forward on the police side break the arms side, we are still a little bit challenged. i do not have something as aggressive as that that has been in debt -- endorsed by the minister of defense. i am very encourag

afghan national security force, if i may. we call that the ansf. it's the afghan national security force which consists of the army, the police and the air force. as we go through this dialogue and share a couple of things, i'll be showing you pictures on the screen. these are just pictures to give you visual understanding of some of the context of the information i'll be talking about and then, obviously, at the end i'll be glad to take whatever questions anybody has and talk about that. i can tell you this, there has been significant progress made in the development of the afghan national security force over the past 20 months. a lot of people ask me that, how are they doing? i can tell you, they have made significant progress not only in terms of the growth, the number of them, but also in terms of their quality, too, which is just as important, if not more imperative. i can tell you, though, as you hear very often, these gains are not yet irreversible, and there still have challenges. so as i go through this presentation, i don't want to mislead anybody to think that there's not still more than ample challenges to be taken on and worked in

names on the list include afghan commander, general david petraeus, the commandant of the marines, the air force chief of staff and various other military personnel as well as business leaders who work with the military. the hit list is apparently an effort to inspire a so-called lone wolf here in the u.s. to attack. >> this list and the notion of providing this organic list to whomever on the internet to use as a targeting tool comes at a time when al qaeda proper is very much trying to widen the net of inspiration. >> the names started showing up online after an al qaeda video urging jihadists to strike americans. >>> it is reported this morning that military leaders are asking president obama to go slow on his plan drawdown of forces from afghanistan. about a third of the 100,000 u.s. troops now in afghanistan helped make up the surge that helped push back the taliban. the "wall street journal" reports the military wants to keep most of the troops on the battlefield until the fall. the white house wants to start withdrawing next month. >>> the ongoing nato operation in libya has set off a war

today we are turning the afghan army, police, and air force at over 70 sites located in 21 of the 34n. we believe that high-quality, realistic, and challenging training is key to the transformation of the ansf into a professional, i scale, a trusted institution that meets their nation's need. with a partner with the security mission to expand training capacity and we have improved the quality of training across the nation. we have in fact standardized disparate efforts of different programs of instruction and created national standards not only for the army, but most recently for the police forces. enforcement ofng this at all the different training centers. there are other training centers decide what nato runs, and the key is between the private team, the european union police, the nato training mission-afghanistan, and our afghan partners, we have collectively come together and build one standardized program of instruction and are rigidly enforcing that and using that across the nation as we continue to develop their police force. we've also recently made the decision with our afg

iraq and afghanistan and you hear that air conditioning i doesn't even count weapons troops infrastructure rebuilding projects the training of afghan security forces about a million other things you can put on that list n.p.r. even put together a nice list of everything that costs that that program costs more that and that includes air conditioning after iraq and afghanistan is more than nasa's budget it's more than b.p. is paid so car for damage during the gulf oil spill it's more than what the g. eight has pledged to help foster new democracies and egypt and tunisia those should make you pause for just a moment but if they don't let me give you the examples that we came up with on this show air conditioning in iraq and afghanistan is costing us more than domestic programs that are being cut or targeted by republican lawmakers domestic programs that could really be making a difference it's more than national school lunches it's more than heating assistance it's more than eight chivied and aids funding federally so i guess you could say that that's probably something we already knew about to just like we already knew that michele bachmann is going

. >> reporter: refugees international says afghans continue to be driven out by coalition air strikes and special forces raids. general david petraeus has long said the military tries to be as careful as it can. but there are growing questions if often corrupt afghan security forces including local police are now driving afghans from their homes. >> we talked to displaced people who said that the afghan local police, which are supported by u.s. military, through afghan government program, are extorting money from people, demanding taxes, using their power to abuse civilians. they have also been implicated in allegations of murder and torture as well in these communities. >> reporter: providing afghan security, village by village, has always been key to the u.s. strategy for leaving afghanistan. >> we have been involved very closely with the afghans in this local neighborhood watch program, if you will. and much of the focus of our effort with the afghans has been involved in ensuring good human rights standards, anti-corruption standards, good identification, good connections to other security elements,

president's announcement and one after that required nato to come in and back up with air power afghan and coalition forcesis is a real strategic embarrassment. on top of which, only recently, did secretary gates and the president acknowledge that they have started preliminary discussions. >> fran townsend, thank you very much. president obama will discuss other issues during the news conference as well as kabul. that is scheduled to begin at the bottom of the hour at 11:30 eastern. cnn will bring that to you live. >>> there is more drama in the casey anthony trial. her father gets angry with defense questions. >> trying to take this joy of my life away from me, sir. you can't do it anymore. i'm going to answer it. >> i'll go deeper into today's testimony after the break. [ male announcer ] this...is the network -- a network of possibilities. in here, the planned combination of at&t and t-mobile would deliver our next generation mobile broadband experience to 55 million more americans, many in small towns and rural communities, giving them a new choice. we'll deliver better service, with thousands of new c

afghan government. nick walsh joins us from bag ram air force base. nick, what's the reaction in afghanistan as the president announces the surge troops are going to start coming home? >> reporter: the commander in chief hasn't spoken yet, we privately hear that he is ordering the end of the longest ever war. it is fair to say not the same energy for this conflict that we have seen previously or even iraq. one said we got bin laden, the job is done, we should go home. another expressed fears that a precipitous withdrawal could let the taliban come back in force. i think a recognition of the dangers here, but also perhaps acknowledgment that maybe some of america's cards are being played. >> that question of a vacuum being created and the taliban stepping into it, to sort of seize control, how likely is that for real? >> reporter: i think across the whole country that is unlikely because of the pockets created in kabul. you go out towards the afghan, pakistani border where we sent a cameraman recently, there is a town where it does appear the taliban h

join the air force there would be a solution for smuggling got this. from kabul the afghan journalist. thank you very much. well coming up here in our twenty first century exodus find out why thousands of israelis are applying for european and american passports in the hope of leaving the promised land. and emergency ministries plane has been sent to russia's north caucasus to collect those seriously injured in a gas explosion at a wedding ceremony for six people including six children were hurt and those with the worst injuries will not be brought to moscow. is in a city of a lot of where the blast took place. well everything happened during our wedding ceremony and weddings here in russia's north caucasus are big celebrations were no less than three hundred guests coming the food is usually being cooked outside in special councils. and this requires gas canisters well one of those gas canister exploded and injured dozens of people many have been taken to hospital and the moment of them are children whereas a sieve am burned now according to the latest information coming f

force. more now from david martin at the pentagon. >> reporter: the bodies of afghan children killed by a nato air strike. human tragedy, a defeat for american troops whose number-one job is to protect the population, and a propaganda victory for the taliban. it happened in helmand province over the weekend. a marine foot patrol was ambushed by insurgents. one marine was dead and the patrol was still taking fire from two houses when they called in an air strike. the houses were demolished, but in the rubble, the marines found the body of only one insurgent. all the rest were women and children. u.s. military officers say it appears the taliban fighters were using the civilians as human shields. it will take a investigation to determine whether the marines should have realized that and not called in the air strike. but afghan president karzai did not wait. he told reporters air strikes on afghan homes would not longer be allowed. >> the afghan people can no longer tolerate these attacks on their homes. >> reporter: karzai can demand a halt to air strikes on homes, but general petraeus, the commander of all

air base. u.s. troops and nato forces, what do you see on the ground right now? >> reporter: we are coming from the afghanani border. nato pulled out, posting in that area back a couple of years ago, leaving afghan security forces to handle security. since march, we are told the seconds seem to verify the tal sban being in control. in the quiet mountainous village, one of the nato's worst fears realized this is the local government building of a district mostly deserted. it flies a new flag. the white banner of the taliban. there is no guard, but the messenger reads the real message is simple. we, the taliban, are back in power here. to the men who call themselves the new administration, they showed a local cameraman cnn commission, the vision of afghanistan back in the taliban's hands. now they are the local counsel, the local law. it's like nato was never even here. >> translator: they are in charge of the area and the people's problems are solved under the law. the prib has welcomed us and bring us their problems and we deal with them. they understand implementing sharia is one of their duties. >> repo

afghan commander general david petraeus, who is currently in the u.s., is on the list. so is the captain of the marine corps and the chief of staff of the air force. >> he haddists also name a wealth of companies and people who do business with the military. >> this list and the notion of providing this organic list to whomever on the internet to use as a targeting tool comes at a time when al qaeda-proper is very much trying to widen the net of inspiration. >> reporter: the fbi says american-born al qaeda crusader adam gadahn inspired the list when he posted an online video calling on individuals to go to war against americans. >> these are people with no problems with thousands of their citizens and soldiers dying in the wars they started and are profiting from so long as it's not they themselves who are in harm's way. >> reporter: gadahn tells followers how easy it is to buy a gun in the u.s. and hails army psychiatrist nadal hasan as a hero for killing 13 people at fort hood, texas, two years ago. the fbi believes the online aspirations are more of a wish list than a hit list, but investigators say they can't dismiss the possibility that the

afghan village. also there was this previously unseen video of an iranian planes deadly crash during an air show two years ago. and stories to come the first israeli security forces of open forum pro palestinian protesters who were marching on the syrian border reportedly killing twenty people and injuring hundreds syrian t.v. is also reported that thousands of protesters are staying in the border area for an open ended sit in. has the details now from tel aviv hundreds of palestinians have gathered on the syrian side of the israeli of syrian border and every long day today a group of about one hundred and fifty of them made their way to the border fence we're being told that they were actually trying to cut that order frames when israeli soldiers the five warning shots in the air now those one shots seem only to have inflamed the crowds because israeli soldiers very soon followed up with actually taking aim at some of the protesters certainly this is a day that there has been preparing for several days now the country is in a state of high alert and has been ever since the hallway insults the palestinians from living on syria the west bank and gaza to make their

force in afghanistan until 2014. after that security will be handed over to the afghans. cnn's nick peyton walsh is in the country. he joins us live from bagram air base. nick? >> reporter: absolutely. what we're about to see is a report from a remote part of the border with pakistan, an area called newer stan. this is a small village surrounded by valleys. nato used to have a fairly strong presence here, outposts securing the area. a few years ago pulled back. that left the afghans in control. since late march of this year, the talibans have moved in and taken over this village. the report you're about to see is sinister for some people because it shows their flag flying above the local administration there and them suggesting they are the law in that part of afghanistan, potentially shocking for the future of this country. in this quiet village near the pakistani border, one of nato's fears is realized, the local government building of a district in waygal, above it flies a new flag, the white banner of the taliban. there is no god by ala and mohammed is its mess en jer. but the real message is simple, we, the taliban, are back in power here. t

air force secretary and chief of staff for lackluster nuclear weapons security. and in 2009, he relieved u.s. army general david mckiernan of command of the afghan coalition. >> we have a new strategy, a new mission, and a new ambassador. i believe that new military leadership also is needed. >> reporter: gates also challenged the defense establishment, in congress and his own building, canceling, for example, the costly f-22 fighter program. but he sought much greater and faster spending to protect troops in the field. he saluted them, on his last trip to afghanistan ten days ago. >> you all are in my thoughts every minute of every day. i understand your hardship and your sacrifice and the burdens >> reporter: on that same overseas swing, the secretary took a tough tone with nato allies-- charging they've let american power carry the burden. >> what i've sketched out is the real possibility for a dim, if not dismal future for the trans- atlantic alliance. >> reporter: during his four and a half years on the job, gates has won accolades from across the political spectrum for managing two wars and taking on the pentagon bureaucracy. but even with

afghan government will be forced to take a ewen eye lateral action in this regard. >> holman: karzai did not say what he meant by "unilateral action," but nato answered that its airll are essential in fighting the taliban. syrian president bashar al-assad issued a general amnesty for all political prisoners today. state-run television reported the amnesty covers all crimes committed before today, possibly affecting thousands of people. at the same time, syrian troops attacked the town of rastan with tanks and heavy machine guns. activists said at least one person was killed. and the u.s. state department condemned the tortured killing of a 13-year-old syrian boy, identified as hamza ali al-khateeb. "the new york times" reported the boy was arrested at a protest, and his mutilated body was returned later to his family. north and south sudan have agreed to set up a demilitarized border zone patrolled by both sides. the african union announced the arrangement today, after escalating clashes in recent days. i spoke this afternoon with rebecca hamilton of the pulitzer center, reporting from juba in south sudan. rebecca, what is the assessment there of how this talk of

air force, so this is a sort of military question. do you, in your military opinion, think that the afghan military can take over militarily, consideringt of the afghan military is a literate and not a very well- educated -- electric -- ill iterate and not very well- educated? guest: it does not have to be to our standard. it has to be good enough to pass muster in their country. the things that are being done right now, and lieutenant general caldwell has the dime on this. i worked with him in iraq. there is not a greater man to oversee this issue. he is trying to bring them up to speed. those issues that you talked about are important, but i will go back to the standard that they need in their country to conduct affairs, not the u.s. standard. we. confuse -- we cannot confuse that. we would like them to be as proficient as our military, but considering what we spend on our military, where we draw from, they do not have that -- that luxury, so we will see how this unfolds. this is quantitate time to build this police force, this army -- this is going to take time to build this police force and this army. it will take weeks, months, ye

afghan people. it's a civil war. mr. speaker, as i have done before, i have the poster that has a flag draped coffin being carried by the air force at dover air force base. mr. president, you are a very smart man. you can call the shots on this war in afghanistan. say to the american people tonight that we will be home before 2014, 2015. and, mr. speaker, i say in closing, may god bless our men and women in uniform, may god bless the families of our men and women in uniform, may god in his loving arms hold the

forwent to the afghan air force. we had a specialized english language training program. some became pilots in the afghan air force. of the 32 in the program, quattro are women -- for our women and are in the top seven -- four are women that are in the top seven. they are doing exceptionally well. we are slowly increasing each size -- side, recruiting women who are able to come in and served. the minister of interior has agreed that he will add 1000 additional women into the police force each year. they have just over 1000 in the police force now. the goal is to add 1000 more every year. the army side is still a little bit more challenged. i am very encouraged that he set that minimum standard. there are positive steps being made. the key is to sustain it and grow it. >> i am jordan snyder and an intern here at brookings. can you address the ethnic makeup of the army? what about the national pride that will serve them in the future? >> can you tell us if you ever talk about when you will know that they can stand and fight on their own? they took a baby steps, but there was