She described Ansari as an extremist cleric who had some following in western Herat. His billboards told women to wear the Islamic headscarf, or hijab. A White House official says they discussed efforts to reduce the number of U. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations. The discussions came as a fresh contingent of Marines arrived in the Afghan capital on Saturday as part of a 3,troop force intended to secure an airlift of U. Embassy personnel and Afghan allies as Taliban insurgents approach the outskirts of the capital.
The last-minute decision to re-insert thousands of U. Kulhanek says the decision was based on information from the allies and the Czech ambassador. Czech leaders will meet later on Saturday to discuss what to do next due to the serious situation in Afghanistan where a Taliban offensive has now encircled Kabul.
Special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was dispatched urgently this week to the talks, but thus far the Taliban have shown little interest in declaring peace with the Ghani government. With the talks foundering, and U. Fall of Afghan jewel a harbinger of a return to dark times. Amid drumbeat of disaster, here is why the fall of Herat bodes especially ill for Afghanistan. Trump ally Stephen Bannon indicted on contempt charges over Capitol riot inquiry.
Biden and Xi to hold virtual summit Monday to discuss tensions. Democrats call for censure of GOP congressman over violent video of Rep. All Sections. About Us. B2B Publishing. Business Visionaries. Hot Property. Times Events. Times Store. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options. Taliban fighters patrol in Ghazni, Afghanistan, southwest of Kabul, the capital.
On Thursday, the Taliban captured the provincial capital, one of many the insurgents have taken as the U. By Tracy Wilkinson Staff Writer. Quick protein. Energy bars, tuna fish, sardines, non-perishable beef jerky or beef summer sausage. Look for small, hard containers of chips, pretzels and nuts. These are easier to carry than large containers. Avoid bags, which may burst under high pressure.
If you do send large bags or containers, include small zipper-lock bags so your service member can pack smaller amounts of snacks to carry.
Snack cakes, cheese crackers and cookies are in high demand. Salty snacks are good for those deployed in the desert, especially in the summer months, because they will encourage your service member to drink more water.
Candy and gum. Avoid chocolate if your service member is in a warm climate. It will melt in the heat. Gum and other types of candy may soften and become gooey, so send these in plastic zipper-lock bags. Send plenty of extras for your service member to share, especially if he or she comes into contact with children.
If you find your service member needs essentials, choose small, travel-size containers of personal care products, and avoid aerosol cans. To keep liquids from spilling, cover the opening of the container with plastic wrap, then recap before shipping. Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, cotton swabs, shaving lotion, disposable razors, shampoo, individually packaged tissues. Personal care. Individually packaged baby wipes, eye drops, lip balm, lotion, aspirin or another pain reliever, feminine hygiene products for women.
Disposable hand warmers. Send these during the winter if your service member is in a cold climate. Also, fingerless gloves, stocking caps and long underwear are good ideas. Goggle-style sunglasses. Your service member will appreciate these if he or she is deployed in the desert. Cotton socks and underwear. Make sure the garments are made of percent cotton rather than a cotton blend.
In every care package, be sure to include a personal note or other special reminders of home. Photographs, drawings, and DVDs of your activities at home will be comforting to your service member. Here are some more ideas:. Additionally, some fun entertainment may be a good idea, especially if you have extra room in the flat-rate package.
Foam footballs and basketballs, Frisbees, Hacky Sacks, playing cards, yo-yos. Crossword puzzles, word searches, jigsaw puzzles. Portable media player, handheld electronic games. Maybe a disposable camera. Size AA and D batteries are in high demand. If you're sending a battery-operated device, remove the batteries so the appliance doesn't accidentally turn on during shipment.
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