NEWS FLASH

Military Officials Push For Extension Of Surge Troop Levels in Afghanistan | Several U.S. military officials are proposing that President Obama hold off on drawing down the 33,000 troop surge in Afghanistan until the fall of 2012. The military hopes to focus heavy military activity on the eastern provinces bordering Pakistan. The White House has called for a “significant” withdrawal of U.S. soldiers in July but hasn’t announced what number would be withdrawn or when the troop surge would end. The report that military officials seek a slowdown in the withdrawal comes two days after 29 senators called for an accelerated withdrawal with the aim of ending U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.