US Kill 11 Pakistan Troops in Border Airstrike

From BBC Online

Pakistan's military has condemned an air strike by Afghanistan-based US forces that killed 11 of its troops as a "cowardly attack". The incident happened inside Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan, as US-led forces tackled pro-Taleban militants.

The US military confirmed it had used artillery and air strikes after coming under fire from "anti-Afghan" forces. It comes amid rising tensions between the US and Pakistan militaries.

Riverbend makes it to Syria

A bit off the mainstream for this site but, having followed her story for a couple of years, I couldn't help but post this excerpt from Baghdad Burning.

"I cried as we left- in spite of promises not to. The aunt cried… the uncle cried. My parents tried to be stoic but there were tears in their voices as they said their goodbyes. The worst part is saying goodbye and wondering if you’re ever going to see these people again. My uncle tightened the shawl I’d thrown over my hair and advised me firmly to ‘keep it on until you get to the border’. The aunt rushed out behind us as the car pulled out of the garage and dumped a bowl of water on the ground, which is a tradition- its to wish the travelers a safe return… eventually.

The trip was long and uneventful, other than two checkpoints being run by masked men. They asked to see identification, took a cursory glance at the passports and asked where we were going. The same was done for the car behind us. Those checkpoints are terrifying but I’ve learned that the best technique is to avoid eye-contact, answer questions politely and pray under your breath. My mother and I had been careful not to wear any apparent jewelry, just in case, and we were both in long skirts and head scarves...

...The first minutes after passing the border were overwhelming. Overwhelming relief and overwhelming sadness… How is it that only a stretch of several kilometers and maybe twenty minutes, so firmly segregates life from death?"

Mercenaries taking heavy casualties in Iraq

Private security companies (i.e. mercenaries), have played a major role in the Iraq war. An article in the Washington Post yesterday describes their widening involvement and the resulting increase in under-reported or un-reported casualties.

From the Washington Post

BAGHDAD -- Private security companies, funded by billions of dollars in U.S. military and State Department contracts, are fighting insurgents on a widening scale in Iraq, enduring daily attacks, returning fire and taking hundreds of casualties that have been underreported and sometimes concealed, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials and company representatives.

A partial list of contractor casualties is maintained here by Coalition casualty Count.