Prisoner release threatens U.S.-Afghan ties --- KABUL — The Afghan government said Thursday it will release 72 high-profile detainees, a decision that defies pleas by U.S. officials and deals a massive blow to U.S.-Afghan relations just as the two countries attempt to complete a long-term security agreement. -- U.S. officials say the prisoners pose a threat to both Afghan security and American service members based here, claiming their exoneration proves not only the dysfunction of the Afghan judiciary, but also the government’s inability to cooperate on even the gravest matters. -- President Hamid Karzai declared Thursday that the evidence against the 72 men — which had been collected by both the Afghan intelligence service and the U.S. military — was insufficient to warrant formal trials, according to a statement from the presidential palace. - More, Kevin Sieff, washingtonpost, at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/prisoner-release-threatens-us-afghan-ties/2014/01/09/8092c328-794d-11e3-a647-a19deaf575b3_story.html?hpid=z4