The Londoner

But beginning on Jan. 20, Mr. Gates’s mission will be to end the war in Iraq, assuming the Pentagon boss stays in his post under an agreement with a new commander in chief, President-elect Barack Obama. That contrast might seem to leave Mr. Gates consigned to serious whiplash. While Mr. Obama campaigned on a promise to withdraw all American combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months, or by May 2010, Mr. Gates has spent his time at the Pentagon arguing a Bush administration position that has opposed setting strict timetables for withdrawal. “I would urge our nation’s leaders to implement strategies that, while reducing our presence in Iraq steadily, are cautious and flexible and take into account the advice of our senior commanders and military leaders,” Mr. Gates told Congress in September. “I would also urge our leaders to keep in mind that we should expect to be involved in Iraq for years to come, though in changing and increasingly limited ways.” While that statement would appear to

At least four civilians have been killed in a suicide bomb attack near the American embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul, officials say. About 20 others were injured when a man driving a car blew himself up. A spokesman for the embassy, which was closed for a Thanksgiving Day event, said none of its staff had been killed or injured. Violence across Afghanistan has soared to levels not seen since the Taleban were driven from power in 2001. The embassy is close to government buildings and one of the city's major landmarks, Massoud Circle. The attack took place early in the morning, when many people were out on the streets heading to work. It is a public holiday at the US embassy, although Thanksgiving Day celebrations were due to be held later on Thursday. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Kabul says all roads leading to the blast site were cordoned off, leading to massive traffic jams. Ambulances ferried the wounded to hospital while police and security teams sifted through the blast

By Gordon Corera Security correspondent, BBC News Previous attacks involved the leaving of explosives in public places like markets or on trains. These could be devastating in terms of the loss of life, with nearly 200 killed in 2006. But the latest attacks are different in terms of both method and scale, with teams of well-armed men involved in synchronised attacks - the gunmen were also clearly prepared to die in their attacks. Another major difference is the targeting of restaurants and hotels used by westerners and the apparent singling out of those with British and American passports. This points to either a major shift in strategy by an existing group or the influence or direction of outside parties, perhaps even al-Qaeda, whose style of attacks this mimics. The growing tide of attacks raises major problems for the Indian authorities However, while the attack was highly organised, it was not necessarily that advanced in terms of technology, with automatic weapons and grenades. I

Commandos are fighting room-by-room through two luxury hotels in Mumbai, nearly 24 hours after a series of devastating attacks across the city. Indian officials said the Taj Mahal hotel had nearly been cleared of gunmen and trapped guests were being freed. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh vowed to track down the attackers. At least 110 people have been killed. Another 300 people were injured when gunmen targeted at least seven sites in Mumbai late on Wednesday. A security official said one gunman remained in the Taj Mahal hotel and that the military was in control of the situation. Commandos were continuing their sweep of another hotel, the Oberoi-Trident, where a number of guests were trapped in their rooms or being held hostage, said JK Dutt, of the National Security Guards. A home ministry official said earlier there might be 20-30 people being held hostage at the Oberoi-Trident. Owners said some 200 people were trapped in the hotel. India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: &q

According to latest reports seven terrorists have been killed at the Taj hotel but the encounter is still on as fresh firing has been reported. Army sources have told NDTV that operation at Taj can go on till morning. However, the Director General NSG JK Dutt said that one injured terrorist was still inside the hotel. The NSG chief said that it's a matter of time before the combing operation is over. NSG commandoes have now launched their final assault at the Trident hotel where fire has been reported on the top floor. Seven hostages have been rescued from Nariman House which is reportedly surrounded by NSG commandoes. Earlier on Thursday, fresh blasts rocked Oberoi-Trident and Taj hotel. Security forces had launched a major counter-offensive against the militants holed up in various installations across the city. Combined forces of National Security Guards (NSGs), Navy, Army, Mumbai Police and Anti-Terrorist Squad have been rushed to tackle an unknown number of militants hiding in

By Sikander Hayat India has been attacked in the painfully similar way and terrorist have struck again. These people, whatever their motives are, in my mind are the scum of this earth and must be treated as such. India must not jump to conclusion that somehow Pakistan is involved in this atrocity as it has been shown on the day when Marriott Hotel was blown up by the suicide bombers, causing hundreds of lives and irreparable damage to Pakistan’s Image (as a country which cannot even secure its capital), that we in Pakistan are a victim of this scourge. Pakistan has made mistakes in the past and it is paying a very heavy price for those mistakes in every part of the country in the form of huge loss of life and limb. The economy has nearly grounded to a halt and Pakistan is not willing to let its land be used for the launch of any terror strikes anywhere. Pakistan has learned its lesson. There are a lot of other contenders who could easily be responsible for this heinous act and in time

There has been widespread international condemnation of the series of shootings across the Indian city of Mumbai in which at least 60 people have been killed and many more injured. GORDON BROWN, UK PRIME MINISTER "These outrageous attacks in Mumbai will be met with a vigorous response. I have sent a message to Prime Minister Singh that the UK stands solidly with his government as they respond, and to offer all necessary help. Urgent action is underway to offer every possible protection to British citizens in the region." DAVID MILIBAND, UK FOREIGN SECRETARY "Today's attacks in Mumbai which have claimed many innocent victims, remind us, yet again, of the threat we face from violent extremists. I condemn these attacks unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured. The UK and India will continue their joint efforts to counter the actions of terrorists." US STATE DEPARTMENT "The United States strongly condemns the terr