AP NewsBreak: Top US officials in Afghanistan look to Vietnam War for ‘how not to’ lessons

BRUSSELS — Top U.S. officials have reached out to a leading Vietnam war scholar to discuss the similarities of that conflict 40 years ago with American involvement in Afghanistan, where the U.S. is seeking ways to isolate an elusive guerrilla force and win over a skeptical local population.

Pakistani military investigates reports that Taliban chief was killed in US missile strike

ISLAMABAD — U.S. and Pakistani authorities are investigating reports that Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in an American missile strike, officials from both countries said Friday.

House provides $200 million for new jets for travel by Pentagon officials, lawmakers

WASHINGTON — The House is ordering up three Gulfstream jets to fly Pentagon and other top government officials — including members of Congress — around the globe in conditions far cushier than coach class.

A survivor and simple man: UK honors last World War I infantryman by uniting former enemies

WELLS, England — Harry Patch, the last known survivor of trench warfare on World War I’s Western Front, was buried Thursday in his native village with the simplicity he craved.

Britons pay final honors to Harry Patch, Britain’s last combat veteran of World War I

WELLS, England — Church, state and hundreds of warriors of other battles were according last honors Thursday to Harry Patch, Britain’s last combat veteran of World War I.

Clinton vows new support for Somalia against extremists

NAIROBI, Kenya — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday pledged to expand American support for Somalia’s weak interim government and threatened sanctions against neighboring Eritrea for aiding an extremist group she says is trying to launch worldwide terrorist attacks from Somalia.

Clinton vows support for Somalia against extremists, remembers EAfrica embassy bombings,

NAIROBI, Kenya — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday pledged continued American support for Somalia’s weak interim government as it struggles against Islamist extremists believed linked to al-Qaida.

Church and state honor Britain’s last World War I veteran at cathedral funeral

WELLS, England — Church, state and hundreds of warriors of other battles were according last honors Thursday to Harry Patch, Britain’s last combat veteran of World War I.

Pentagon says review of Afghan war delayed a few weeks to consider more ‘ideas’

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates, asking that “a few other ideas” be taken into account, has extended the deadline for an assessment of how to turn around the war in Afghanistan, an official said Wednesday.

Iraqi child witnessed Navy pilot’s burial 2 decades ago, as adult helped lead Marines to site

WASHINGTON — A U.S. senator says the key to finding the remains of a pilot missing for nearly 20 years turned out to be an Iraqi nomad who as a child witnessed the pilot’s desert burial.

New NATO head pledges alliance will stay in Afghanistan ‘as long as it takes’

KABUL — NATO’s new secretary-general pledged Wednesday that the alliance would remain in Afghanistan despite flagging support in many nations from voters anxious over rising deaths among civilians and Western forces.

Honduran presidential candidate criticizes Zelaya expulsion, shows cracks in backing for coup

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — A leading candidate for Honduras’ presidency distanced himself Wednesday from the overthrow of Manuel Zelaya and said sending him abroad was a mistake, while clashes broke out between police and supporters of the ousted president.

Iraqi child witnessed Navy pilot burial 2 decades ago, helped lead Marines to site last month

WASHINGTON — A U.S. senator says the key to finding the remains of a pilot missing for nearly 20 years turned out to be an Iraqi nomad who as a child witnessed the pilot’s desert burial.

Philippine former President Aquino laid to rest as huge crowds pay tribute

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine President Corazon “Cory” Aquino was laid to rest Wednesday next to her assassinated husband after a funeral procession joined by hundreds of thousands of supporters who hailed her as an exemplar of moral leadership.

Russian military official: Russian submarines off US East Coast on legitimate training mission

MOSCOW — A senior Russian military official said Wednesday that Russian nuclear-powered attack submarines spotted off the U.S. East Coast were on a legitimate training mission.

Afghan villagers say airstrikes by foreign troops kill 4 people, including 3 boys

KABUL — NATO’s new secretary-general said on his first trip to Afghanistan on Wednesday that new rules on Western airstrikes and ground operations have sharply reduced civilian casualties. But he spoke just hours after outraged Afghan villagers said a pre-dawn airstrike had killed three children and a man in a southern village.

Honduran military leadership defends decision to exile ousted president

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras’ military leadership defended its decision to force the ousted president into exile — a move the interim government has suggested was wrong even as it stands by the role of civilians in unseating President Manuel Zelaya.

Air Force report on F-22 crash in Calif. says pilot nearly lost consciousness in maneuver

LOS ANGELES — An Air Force F-22 Raptor jet fighter crashed in the California desert this year after the pilot apparently almost lost consciousness in a maneuver under high gravitational force then ejected because he was too low to recover, an investigation board found.

Colombian President Uribe on whirlwind trip through region to defend US bases pact

BOGOTA — President Alvaro Uribe headed off on a whirlwind South American tour Tuesday to defend his plans to expand the U.S. military’s presence in Colombia, a prospect that worries even friendly nations in the region.

AP Interview: Top US commander in Iraq says American role is crucial as he disputes memo

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq — The top U.S. commander in Iraq said the military’s mission has changed but its role is crucial to ensuring legitimate national elections and helping Iraq become a long-term U.S. partner in the Middle East.

Rep., ex-vice admiral Sestak hopes to unseat Republican-turned-Democrat Sen. Specter in Pa.

FOLSOM, Pa. — Three years after he knocked off a veteran House incumbent, Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak will seek a bigger prize and challenge Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter for his long-held U.S. Senate seat.

Air Force puts new 3-star general in command of US Air Force in Mideast as Afghan war heats up

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Air Force is putting a new three-star general in charge of its forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and moving him from the United States to the front as the conflict in Afghanistan heats up.

Taliban launch rockets on Kabul, warn of more to come in weeks before election

KABUL — Taliban militants unleashed a wave of rockets at Kabul’s international airport and government buildings Tuesday in an attempt to shatter the sense of security in the Afghan capital less than three weeks before presidential elections.

Pentagon orders review of social networking on its sites, citing benefits, security risks

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is reviewing the use of Facebook and other social networking sites on its computers with an eye toward setting rules on how to protect against possible security risks.

Marines ban Facebook, other social networking sites amid Pentagon review of security risks

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps is banning its troops from going onto Facebook, MySpace and other social network sites, citing a possible security risk.

AP Interview: Top US general in Iraq disputes memo urging early pullout, says US still needed

RAMADI, Iraq — The top U.S. general in Iraq said Tuesday that he disagrees with a colonel’s memo urging an early troop withdrawal although the security situation is better than expected since American forces turned over security in urban centers to the Iraqis more than a month ago.

Rep., ex-vice admiral Sestak to challenge Republican-turned-Democrat Sen. Specter in Pa.

FOLSOM, Pa. — Rep. Joe Sestak on Tuesday announced he would challenge Republican-turned-Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter, setting the stage for a Pennsylvania primary race likely to center on Specter’s Democratic credentials.

Sestak challenging Republican-turned-Democrat Sen. Specter in Pa.

FOLSOM, Pa. — Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak is challenging Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter for his Senate seat.

Deputy commander of al-Qaida-linked cell arrested in northern Iraq, US military says

BAGHDAD — The deputy commander of a radical Sunni Islamic group linked to al-Qaida has been arrested in northern Iraq, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

New NATO secretary-general Fogh Rasmussen chairs meeting on Afghanistan

BRUSSELS — NATO’s new civilian and military leaders briefed top members Tuesday on command changes in Afghanistan and other matters affecting the escalating war, a spokesman said.