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The body of an airman from Hudson who was killed in a crash in Afghanistan began the journey home and arrived in the U.S. Thursday night.Watch the full ceremony below:Capt. Ryan Phaneuf and another pilot were killed when their plane crashed Monday in Afghanistan. Phaneuf graduated from Alvirne High School in 2007. His former Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps commander said that during Phaneuf's time at Alvirne, he demonstrated a quiet leadership style, accompanied by a sense of humor.Col. Kevin Grady added that Phaneuf was one of his first students at JROTC and helped shape the way it evolved."A lot of the things that the program does today were sort of started on his watch," Grady said. "A lot of the community service things that the program does really had their origins with Ryan."BAE Systems announced Thursday that Phaneuf was the son of two employees and was a former intern. In a statement, company officials said they grieve with his family and friends.

The body of an airman from Hudson who was killed in a crash in Afghanistan began the journey home and arrived in the U.S. Thursday night.

Watch the full ceremony below:

Capt. Ryan Phaneuf and another pilot were killed when their plane crashed Monday in Afghanistan.

Phaneuf graduated from Alvirne High School in 2007. His former Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps commander said that during Phaneuf's time at Alvirne, he demonstrated a quiet leadership style, accompanied by a sense of humor.

Col. Kevin Grady added that Phaneuf was one of his first students at JROTC and helped shape the way it evolved.

"A lot of the things that the program does today were sort of started on his watch," Grady said. "A lot of the community service things that the program does really had their origins with Ryan."

BAE Systems announced Thursday that Phaneuf was the son of two employees and was a former intern. In a statement, company officials said they grieve with his family and friends.

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Body of Hudson airman killed in crash in Afghanistan returned to U.S. - WMUR Manchester

Amblin Television has acquired the rights to the Washington Posts At War With the Truth report, which focused on the Afghanistan Papers, the studio announced Thursday.

Amblin and Jigsaw Productions will work together to created both an explosive limited documentary series and limited scripted series, according to a release.

Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney will executive produce along with Jigsaw Productions Stacey Offman and Richard Perello and Amblins co-presidents Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.

Also Read: Steven Spielberg and Alex Gibney's Docuseries 'Why We Hate' Gets Premiere Date From Discovery (Exclusive)

The companies will work closely with the Post and have access to files, recordings, research and materials obtained in the investigation. Theyll also work with the investigative journalist, Craig Whitlock, who uncovered the story. Discussions with distributors are now underway.

The Posts six-part report came after a three-year investigation and a fight between the publication and the American government over having documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. It tells the unknown history of the war in Afghanistan, showcasing the admissions of failure from leaders who were expressing confidence and pride in public.

Also Read: Washington Post Runs Full-Page Editorial Calling on Mitch McConnell to 'Do Something' on Gun Violence

In a Thursday statement, Amblins Frank and Falvey said, The opportunity to definitively tell this extraordinary and important story is an exciting one. Thanks to the efforts of Craig Whitlock and all the journalists at The Washington Post, the public finally learned the truth about what has been going on behind closed doors in Washington as it relates to the war in Afghanistan which has spanned almost two decades, three administrations and cost trillions of taxpayer dollars.

The Posts executive editor Marty Baron added, When Post reporter Craig Whitlock became aware that senior U.S. officials had given confidential interviews about the war in Afghanistan, we knew it was imperative to examine them. When the government sought to maintain secrecy, The Post felt it had to challenge a policy of concealment. The public had a right to a full accounting of why this war has been the nations longest, with such a heavy cost in lives, injuries and money. Central to journalisms role in a democracy is holding government accountable and giving citizens the information they need and deserve to know. In documenting how the public was misled about the war, we believe this work was faithful to that mission.

Washington Post senior associate editor Lally Weymouth talks to TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman

Photographed by Megan Mack for TheWrap

Former defense and security adviser Morton Halperin talks to Sharon Waxman

Photographed by Megan Mack for TheWrap

Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron

Photographed by Megan Mack for TheWrap

Lally Weymouth

Photographed by Megan Mack for TheWrap

Lally Weymouth talks to Sharon Waxman

Photographed by Megan Mack for TheWrap

Washington Post associate editor Bob Woodward

Photographed by Megan Mack for TheWrap

Sally Quinn, Washington Post journalist and widow of the late Post top editor Ben Bradlee

Photographed by Megan Mack for TheWrap

Morton Halperin

Photographed by Megan Mack for TheWrap

MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell

Photographed by Megan Mack for TheWrap

Renowned figures from the newspapers history talk about the legacy of the Pentagon Papers

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Amblin Television Acquires Rights to Washington Posts Report on the Afghanistan Papers - TheWrap

TheWashington Posts report on The Afghanistan Papers, which tells the secret history of the war in the country, is set to be turned into a documentary series and a scripted drama after Amblin Television acquired the rights.

The television division of Steven Spielbergs production company has closed a deal with the Jeff Bezos-owned newspaper for the rights to At War with the Truth, the papers investigation into the six-part report.

It has tied with Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, who runs Jigsaw Productions, to develop the project as both a limited documentary series and limited scripted series.

The report was the result of a three-year investigation and a battle between the news organization and the U.S. government to have the documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. It tells the secret history of the war in Afghanistan, exposing behind-the-scenes frustrations, concerns, and blunt acknowledgements of failures from military and government insiders, both Democrat and Republican, who were publicly proclaiming confidence and progress.

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As part of the deal, Amblin and Jigsaw will work closely with The WashingtonPost and have access to files, recordings, research and materials obtained as part of their investigation and will work with investigative journalist Craig Whitlock, who uncovered the story.

Gibney will exec produce with Jigsaw Productions Stacey Offman and Richard Perello, along with Amblin Televisions Co-Presidents Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.

Amblin, Jigsaw and Gibney recently worked together on the documentary seriesWhy We Hate, which aired on Discovery last year, and music documentaryLaurel Canyon, which will air on Epix from May. No broadcaster or streaming platform is currently attached.

Amblins Frank and Falvey said, The opportunity to definitively tell this extraordinary and important story is an exciting one. Thanks to the efforts of Craig Whitlock and all the journalists atThe Washington Post, the public finally learned the truth about what has been going on behind closed doors in Washington as it relates to the war in Afghanistan which has spanned almost two decades, three administrations and cost trillions of taxpayer dollars. Alex, Stacy and the team at Jigsaw are the very best at what they do, and we can imagine no better partner to work with in bringing this story to television audiences.

Gibney said, This is a vital story at a critical moment. For once we will hear an honest, intimate account from insiders of the epic tale of the forever war: politicians regale us with victory speeches while day by day, casualties mount and the battle for hearts and minds are lost. Why? Because no one bothered to wonder why we are there.

Marty Baron, executive editor ofThe Washington Post, added, When Post reporter Craig Whitlock became aware that senior U.S. officials had given confidential interviews about the war in Afghanistan, we knew it was imperative to examine them. When the government sought to maintain secrecy, The Post felt it had to challenge a policy of concealment. The public had a right to a full accounting of why this war has been the nations longest, with such a heavy cost in lives, injuries and money. Central to journalisms role in a democracy is holding government accountable and giving citizens the information they need and deserve to know. In documenting how the public was misled about the war, we believe this work was faithful to that mission.

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Amblin Television & Alex Gibney To Adapt The Washington Posts Afghanistan Papers Into Limited Documentary Series & Drama - Deadline

Two bodies were recovered after a U.S. military aircraft crashed in a Taliban-held area of Afghanistan.

A U.S. defense official told the Associated Press Tuesday that the two bodies recovered were the only people aboard the Air Force E-11A plane that crashed on Monday in the countrys Ghazni province. The identities of those killed have not yet been identified, pending notification to their families.

(Saifullah Maftoon/AP)

The team sent to recover the bodies didnt meet resistance from Taliban fighters, who have controlled the area since 2015. The incident came as the United States and the Taliban have been negotiating a possible peace deal in the region.

The official also said that there is no evidence, despite Taliban claims, that the aircraft was shot down.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the NATO-led Operation Resolute Support mission for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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Bodies of two US service members recovered from Afghanistan crash site - Washington Examiner

KABUL: American warplanes dropped more bombs on Afghanistan in 2019 than at any other time in at least a decade, according to the US Air Force, as Washington intensified attacks in the country amid withdrawal talks with the Taliban.

In 2019 alone, the US dropped 7,423 separate munitions on targets in Afghanistan, where the US has been enmeshed in fighting several militant groups since it invaded the country following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The figure - published online by US Air Forces Central Command -represents a dramatic surge in bombings in Afghanistan compared to the peak of President Barack Obama's "surge" in 2009, when 4,147 bombs were dropped.

Since President Donald Trump was elected in 2016 the US has ramped up bombing runs over Afghanistan as the White House removed earlier restrictions that provided greater oversight over air raids aimed at preventing civilian casualties.

The UN and rights groups have repeatedly voiced concerns that the increase in air strikes across the country by US and Afghan forces have resulted in a major upswing in civilian casualties.

During the first half of 2019 pro-government forces, including the US, killed 717 civilians, an increase of 31 percent from a year earlier, the UN reported last year.

Most of the deaths came from US and Afghan air strikes, often in support of national forces on the ground, the report said.

The increase in bombings comes as Washington and the Taliban continue to wrangle over a possible agreement that would see US troops begin to leave Afghanistan in return for security guarantees.

The Taliban have been pushing to reach a withdrawal agreement with Washington by the end of January and are prepared to "scale down" military operations ahead of signing a deal, their chief spokesman said earlier this month.

The two sides had been negotiating an agreement for a year and were close to an announcement in September 2019 when US President Donald Trump abruptly declared the process "dead", citing Taliban violence.

Taliban sources told AFP earlier this month they had offered to initiate a brief ceasefire of seven to 10 days in order to restart the talks formally, but there has been no announcement of the proposal by either party.

Excerpt from:
US bombing of Afghanistan hits 10-year high - CNA