U.S. weighs stepped-up military forays into Pakistan

Administration officials are pressing President Bush to consider directing U.S. troops in Afghanistan to be more aggressive as they pursue militants. Here, U.S. soldiers of 101st Airborne Division patrol in Mandozai, Afghanistan, on April 19. WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Bush administration officials are urging the president to direct U.S. troops in Afghanistan to be more aggressive in pursuing militants into Pakistan on foot as part of a proposed radical shift in its regional counterterrorism strategy, The Associated Press has learned. Senior intelligence and military aides want President George W. Bush to give American soldiers greater flexibility to operate against al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters who cross the border from Pakistan's lawless tribal border area to conduct attacks inside Afghanistan, officials say. The plan could... [read full story]