Taliban

(Newser) - The Italian government bought the freedom of a kidnapped Italian journalist by arranging the release of five Taliban militants from an Afghan prison. The New York Times says it’s the first time prisoners have been openly exchanged in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan., and the move was widely...

(Newser) - Britain will send 1,400 more troops to Afghanistan in the next few months to counter a Taliban spring offensive. Other NATO allies are unwilling to commit more forces, and French and German patrols are so risk averse their helicopters may as well be "parked up in leading European...