Afghanistan papers detail US dysfunction: ‘We did not know what we were doing’

A key theme of the trove of documents published this week was the lack of coherence in Washington’s approach to Afghanistan from the outset

In the midst of Barack Obama’s much-vaunted military surge against the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2010, Hayam Mohammed, an elder from Panjwai near the Pakistani border confronted an officer from the US 101st Airborne who had come into his village.

You walk here during the day,” the elder told the soldier bitterly as the Observer listened. “But at night [the Taliban] come bringing night letters” – threats targeting those collaborating with foreign forces.

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Ross Perot: billionaire who ran for president dies aged 89

  • Perot challenged Bush and Clinton as independent in 1992
  • Texan who founded EDS also ran in 1996 for Reform party

Ross Perot, an eccentric Texan billionaire who lived a picaresque life and twice ran for president as an independent, has died. He was 89.

Related: Donald Trump: UK ambassador is 'a very stupid guy' – live updates

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The U.S. Postal Service anticipates that Monday will be its busiest…

The U.S. Postal Service anticipates that Monday will be its busiest day online, which would allow most priority and first-class to reach its destination by Thursday before any possibility of a shutdown. WASHINGTON - If Congress and the White House don't make a deal this week to stave off a partial government shutdown , Saturday - three days before Christmas - could be the start of the third shutdown since President Trump took office less than two years ago.

Trump hints could make first visit to Afghanistan

U.S. President Donald Trump hinted on Thursday he may visit Afghanistan, scene of one of America's longest wars but a country he has yet to visit almost two years into his presidency. Delivering a Thanksgiving holiday message by teleconference to troops in Afghanistan, Trump told a U.S. Air Force general he would see him back in the United States, before adding: "Or maybe I'll even see you over there.

Kanye West goes on 10-minute soliloquy, references Superman cape and swears during White House visit

During a meeting with President Trump and Jared Kushner, West spoke for 10 minutes and said he said he had been misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder. Kanye West goes on 10-minute soliloquy, references Superman cape and swears during White House visit During a meeting with President Trump and Jared Kushner, West spoke for 10 minutes and said he said he had been misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Republicans Express Record Support for One-Party Control

A record-high 59% of Republicans say it is better for the president and majority power in Congress to be from the same political party than for Congress to be controlled by a party different from the president's. That is the highest percentage of Republicans or Democrats favoring one-party control of the federal government in Gallup's trend since 2002.

Trump says Brett Kavanaugh was ‘proven innocent’ in confirmation battle during swearing-in ceremony

President Donald Trump used a ceremonial swearing of Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Monday to apologize for the "pain and suffering" the president said his family had endured during his Senate confirmation. Without directly mentioning the allegations of sexual assault that stalled Kavanaugh's confirmation for weeks, Trump said he thought his second nominee to the Supreme Court deserved better than the "campaign of political and personal" attacks the president said he faced.

Trump says those who made ‘false statements’ about Kavanaugh ‘should be held liable’

Hours after his Supreme Court pick was sworn in Saturday, President Donald Trump said on Fox News that those who made up "false" stories about Brett Kavanaugh should be penalized. Trump, talking with Fox News' Jeanine Pirro, said he hated watching the slew of sexual assault allegations grow against Kavanaugh and dubbed all the accusations "fabrications" with "not a bit of truth."

Denis Mukwege, Nadia Murad win 2018 Nobel Peace Prize

A Congolese doctor who has been a fierce critic of his government's treatment of victims of sexual violence and a Yazidi Kurdish activist who was held captive and raped by members of the Islamic State group are the winners of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Friday. Denis Mukwege, 63, and Nadia Murad, 25, were jointly awarded the accolade for "their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict."

Bolton 2.0: Trumpa s tough guy on Iran picks his battles

Hanging on a wall in John Bolton's West Wing office is a memento of his proudest achievement as national security adviser: a framed copy of President Donald Trump's order to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal. Bolton's choice of decor reflects his disdain for the deal secured by President Barack Obama and other world powers in 2015, and his relentless focus on trying to isolate Tehran and cripple its economy by reimposing tight sanctions.