8.000 Marines relocate from Okinawa

to Guam.

There are currently about 13,000 Marines stationed on Okinawa, and 23,000 U.S. troops there overall. They are part of about 50,000 U.S. troops deployed in Japan under a post-World War II mutual security pact.

Preparations for a new US strategy for Afghanistan

And now, after the campaign is over, we remember the Talebans are on the surge and that not only Afghanistan, but also Pakistan are on a power-keg. The first important decision in the area of external relations had a military weight. And, it is nothing unusual in this, as long as America cannot avoid and stop the previous military involvement without blowing up entire regions.

See also:

San Francisco Chronicle - New route links Afghanistan to sea, via Iran

The Washington Times - Lessons from Soviets in Afghanistan

(this op-ed is starting good but ending pathetically; if they were so stubborn to fight for their freedom, why they accepted the talibans as well, who was anything else but defenders of freedoms).

Death toll, up by 40%

US Army, open doors for immigrants

The holders of US temporary visas will be able to join the US Army, they benefiting in exchange of a faster enroll for citizenship. I can understand the scarcity of human resources and the need to have in different places from the world people knowing at least a local language and the local cultural codes. But beyond this, my understanding stops shortly.