Obama is not expected to make an announcement on strategy
until after the Thanksgiving holiday [AFP]

WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama gathered his war cabinet Monday for what officials indicated could be the final time before he decides whether to dispatch tens of thousands more US troops to Afghanistan.

Among top administration officials expected to attend the meeting at 8:00 pm (0100 GMT) were Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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Middle East’s regional and sectarian rivalries escalate Yemen conflict.

Palestinian president sees no new intifada.

Abbas to postpone PA elections.

Israel, Hamas near swap of prisoners for soldier.

Hamid Karzai has been declared the winner of Afghanistan’s presidential election.
Pool/Reuters

Independent Election Commission ends uncertainty by declaring Hamid Karzai president after Abdullah Abdullah drops out

Afghan officials today declared Hamid Karzai the winner of the country’s disputed presidential poll after cancelling a planned runoff election.

The announcement came after Karzai’s main challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, dropped out of the race on the grounds that the vote would not be free or fair.

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Afghan election commission declares Karzai winner — AP
Karzai declared Afghan vote winner — Yahoo News/AFP
Karzai declared Afghan president, run-off scrapped — Yahoo News/Reuters
Karzai Gets New Term as Afghan Runoff Is Scrapped — New York Times
Karzai declared elected president of Afghanistan — CNN
Karzai Declared Winner In Afghanistan — NPR
Karzai Declared President As Afghan Runoff Canceled — Time Magazine
Out of Race, Karzai Rival Is Harsh Critic of Election – New York Times

US Looks Past Karzai Rival’s Decision to Quit — Washington Times
White House Ponders Abdullah Withdrawal, Says No Impact on War Strategy – Voice of America
US Troop Levels Not Tied to Afghan Vote, White House Aides Say — Wall Street Journal

Diplomat: US engaged in ‘civil war’ in Afghanistan — AP
One American’s Afghan withdrawal – Toronto Star
Former U.S.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Abdullah Abdullah, the chief rival to President Hamid Karzai, announced on Sunday that he would withdraw from the Nov.

Iranians carry the coffin of General Nur-Ali Shushtari, deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards ground forces. Photo AFP

The Iranian regime has a problem, and it’s not a velvet revolution or Israel’s threat to bomb its nuclear facilities.