Girl scouts donate boxes of cookies to troops in Afghanistan

And now for some nice news...

The six members of Girl Scout Troop 728 in Prescott and their troop leaders sent 300 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to troops deployed in Afghanistan last year, and they hope to send more this year.

Jen MacDonald, one of the troop's leaders, said when the girls sell cookies, they always ask if people would like to donate boxes to the troops or the Arizona Pioneers' Home, and many do.

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New York Army National Guard prepare to deploy to Afghanistan

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Soldiers from a New York Army National Guard unit will be sent to Afghanistan to help train and fight with that nation's military forces.

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Oklahoma National Guard prepare for Afghanistan deployment

OKLAHOMA CITY - Thousands of friends and family members packed into the Oklahoma City Arena Wednesday morning for a ceremony for the deployment of more than 3,200 Oklahoma National Guard soldiers and airmen who are being sent to Afghanistan.

The troops will leave March 1 for three months training before heading to northeast Afghanistan where they will conduct a variety of "full spectrum operations" according to Col. Joel Ward, who will command the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat team. 

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U.S permanent bases in Afghanistan?

KABUL: Some parliamentarians on Thursday 10th Feb, voiced support to permanent bases of US military in Afghanistan, arguing it would help prevent neighbours' interference.

President Hamid Karzai confirmed Tuesday that the United States was seeking to establish permanent bases in Afghanistan to target Al Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in the region.

Addressing a press conference in his fortified presidential palace, Karzai said that his government was negotiating with US officials over the legal and strategic details of the agreement.