The Vermont National Guard's 2nd in command will be among the 1500 guard soldiers headed to Afghanistan in the New Year.  Brigadier General Jonathan Farnham will be leading a new organization monitoring the training of Afghan security forces. 

300 Vermont National Guard soldiers left for training in Indiana over the weekend. For them and the twelve hundred army guard members who'll follow, it's the final training stop before they deploy to Afghanistan early next year. 

The largest deployment of the Vermont National Guard in the past 60 years got underway this week. 

A number of Norwich University's Corps of Cadets belong to the Vermont National Guard - and they're preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. For some, part of that preparation has included taking a class to help them better deal with the changes they're about to experience.

VPR's Steve Zind talks with Larry Doane, who commands Bravo Troop, first of the 172nd Cavalry of the Vermont National Guard and who will be deployed to Afghanistan in the coming months.

As the Vermont National Guard prepares for a large deployment of soldiers to Afghanistan, staff psychologists and the family readiness program are working to ensure that both soldiers and family members are mentally prepared for war.

Fifteen-hundred members of the Vermont Army Guard will go to Afghanistan early next year.  It will be the largest deployment of Vermont Guard members since World War II.

All 3 members of Vermont's Congressional delegation say they have serious reservations about President Obama's plan to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.

VPR broadcast live President Obama's address to the nation on Tuesday December 1 at 8.  He announced his plan for the future of American forces in Afghanistan.

Sarah Chayes speaks with VPR's Jane Lindholm about her experiences in Afghanistan and her work with a cooperative that makes skin care products from local crops.

Congressman Peter Welch says he thinks the Obama administration is engaging in "nation building" policies in Afghanistan, and that that's the wrong approach to take.

Amid meetings at the UN in New York this week, US envoy to the United Nations mission in Afghanistan Peter Galbraith joins VPR's Jane Lindholm to discuss Afghan politics and the role of the international community in creating stability there.

The largest deployment of the Vermont National Guard in the past 60 years got underway this week. 

The commander of American forces in Afghanistan recently delivered his assessment of the current situation to the Obama administration.  As the President considers this report and a shift in strategy, commentator Larry Doane is thinking about what the best way forward might be.  

Commentator Bill Seamans has been thinking about President Obama, Afghanistan and what lies ahead.

President Barack Obama is struggling with the most important national security decision of his presidency so far- whether to send more American troops to Afghanistan. This morning, veteran ABC News diplomatic correspondent and VPR commentator Barrie Dunsmore looks at Obama’s quandary.

Like most of us, commentator Bill Mares doesn’t have a solution for the Afghanistan quagmire.  Indeed, with  the help of two long-time observers on the situation,  he has more questions.

Pam Blair's two sons are in the Vermont National Guard and both left last week on a deployment that will take them to Afghanistan.  VPR's Steve Zind spoke with her last week about what she's feeling as her sons prepared to leave.

Members of Vermont's congressional delegation are skeptical about sending thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan.

VPR's Bob Kinzel talks with Senator Patrick Leahy about health care reform, climate change, Iran, and troop deployment in Afghanstan.

Vermonter Peter Galbraith is being recalled from his diplomatic post in Kabul after a disagreement over how to address disputed election results in that country. Galbraith served as second-in-command of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan.

Diplomat Peter Galbraith joins us to discuss the accusations of fraud in Afghanistan's elections. The Vermonter serves as a deputy chief for the united Nations in Kabul. Also, an examination of politics and budgets numbers in the layoff of state workers that is set to begin. And trip into farm fields with the Vermont FoodBank's gleaning program.

Vermont National Guard Adjutant General Michael Dubie says that while the Guard's upcoming mission in Afghanistan may be changing, it's too soon to know for sure what that entails.

Vermont's Adjutant General talks about a changing mission in Afghanistan, and how Vermont's National Guard troops are preparing for deployment.

Congressman Peter Welch discusses the future of health care reform and whether he'll vote in favor of a bill that doesn't include a public plan.