The CIA created, controls and pays for a clandestine 3,000-man paramilitary army of local Afghans, known as Counterterrorism Pursuit Teams. Woodward describes these teams as elite, well-trained units that conduct highly sensitive covert operations into Pakistan as part of a stepped-up campaign against al-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban havens there.
When NPR asked a US official familiar with operations in Afghanistan he confirmed the existence of these "Counter-terrorism Pursuit Teams" and said: "This is one of the best Afghan fighting forces and it's made major contributions to stability and security."
Separately, an advisor to the US military also confirmed the existence of such a paramilitary force and that they were conducting some missions across the border in Pakistan.
In the southern Lebanese village of Habboush, the sound that cut through the stillness of the...
Hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel on June 7, the Israeli military said it...
Negative views of both Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have soared since last year...
