NSA director says plot against Wall Street foiled

WASHINGTON | The U.S. foiled a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange because of the sweeping surveillance programs at the heart of a debate over national security and personal privacy, officials said Tuesday at a rare open hearing on intelligence led by lawmakers sympathetic to the spying.

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Afghan security officials attend a handover ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Afghan forces have taken over the lead from the U.S.-led NATO coalition for security nationwide, President Hamid Karzai announced Tuesday in a significan…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Qatari Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali bin Fahd al-Hajri, center right, and Jan Mohammad Madani, center left, one of the Taliban officials cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony of a Taliban office in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. In a major breakthrough, the Talib…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a ceremony at military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Karzai announced at the ceremony that his country's armed forces are taking over the lead for security nationwide from the U.S.-led NATO coalition. (AP P…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

NATO solders wait for a helicopter after a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Afghan forces have taken over the lead from the U.S.-led NATO coalition for security nationwide, Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced in the significan…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, left, shakes hands with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen during a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Karzai announced at the ceremony on Tuesday that his country's armed forces are tak…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

FILE - In this Thursday, June 13, 2013 file photo, Afghan National Army soldiers stand in position, in the Sangin district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan. Afghanistan's fledgling security forces are taking the lead for security nationwide, bringing the moment of truth on the quest…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks at a press conference during a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Afghan forces have taken over the lead from the U.S.-led NATO coalition for security nationwide, Afghan President …

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, right, shakes hands with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen after a press conference during a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Afghan forces have taken over the lead from the U.S.-led NATO …

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

A wounded Afghan man looks on at the site of a blast near the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June, 18, 2013. The large bomb exploded in the Afghan capital on Tuesday as the international military coalition hands over responsibility for fighting the…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

KABUL, Afghanistan | The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, a major breakthrough as the U.S.-led coalition formally handed over control of the country's security to the Afghan army and police.

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, center left, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center right, arrive at a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Karzai announced at the ceremony that his country's armed forces are taking o…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks at a press conference during a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Afghan forces have taken over the lead from the U.S.-led NATO coalition for security nationwide, Karzai announced in the signific…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

An Afghan woman cries as she talks with police at the site of a blast near the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June, 18, 2013. The large bomb exploded in the Afghan capital on Tuesday as the international military coalition hands over responsibility…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Muhammad Naeem a representative of the Taliban speaks during a press conference at the official opening of their office in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. In a major breakthrough, the Taliban and the U.S. announced Tuesday that they will hold talks on finding a political solution to end…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Muhammad Naeem, a representative of the Taliban speaks during a press conference at the official opening of their office in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. In a major breakthrough, the Taliban and the U.S. announced Tuesday that they will hold talks on finding a political solution to en…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

NATO solders walk towards a Chinook helicopter after a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Afghan forces have taken over the lead from the U.S.-led NATO coalition for security nationwide, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai announced …

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

A general view of Taliban office in Doha before the official opening in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. In a major breakthrough, the Taliban and the U.S. announced Tuesday that they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan as the Is…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

An Afghan police officer runs at the site of a blast near the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June, 18, 2013. The large bomb exploded in the Afghan capital on Tuesday as the international military coalition hands over responsibility for fighting the…

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

A wounded Afghan man reacts at the site of a blast near the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, June, 18, 2013. The large bomb exploded in the Afghan capital on Tuesday as the international military coalition hands over responsibility for fighting the T…