US troop deaths double in Afghanistan

[LiberalNation]

rip

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100327/...Jvb3BkZWF0aA--

KABUL – The number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan has roughly doubled in the first three months of 2010 compared to the same period last year as Washington has added tens of thousands of additional soldiers to reverse the Taliban's momentum.

Those deaths have been accompanied by a dramatic spike in the number of wounded, with injuries more than tripling in the first two months of the year and trending in the same direction based on the latest available data for March.

U.S. officials have warned that casualties are likely to rise even further as the Pentagon completes its deployment of 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and sets its sights on the Taliban's home base of Kandahar province, where a major operation is expected in the coming months.

"We must steel ourselves, no matter how successful we are on any given day, for harder days yet to come," Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a briefing last month.

In total, 57 U.S. troops were killed here during the first two months of 2010 compared with 28 in January and February of last year, an increase of more than 100 percent, according to Pentagon figures compiled by The Associated Press. At least 20 American service members have been killed so far in March, an average of about 0.8 per day, compared to 13, or 0.4 per day, a year ago.

The steady rise in combat deaths has generated less public reaction in the United States than the spike in casualties last summer and fall, which undermined public support in the U.S. for the 8-year-old American-led mission here. Fighting traditionally tapers off in Afghanistan during winter months, only to peak in the summer.

After a summer marked by the highest monthly death rates of the war, President Barack Obama faced serious domestic opposition over his decision in December to increase troops in Afghanistan, with only about half the American people supporting the move. But support for his handling of the war has actually improved since then, despite the increased casualties.

[Trigg]

I thought bambam was going to pull everyone out. I'm sure most remember all the crap he threw at Hillary and McCain because their plans for the military.

I wonder what Gabby thinks of this new development.

[LiberalNation]

he was pulling out of Iraq which he is by and large doing, he was gona win the war astan that bush had neglected for Iraq.

[CSM]

he was pulling out of Iraq which he is by and large doing, he was gona win the war astan that bush had neglected for Iraq.

I can't wait to hear the libs call for pictures of the caskets, etc. so the citizens of this country will know the horrible cost of war! The libs will be demanding those photos, wont they?

[LiberalNation]

sure, america should see the price are service members are paying for their war.

[Nukeman]

sure, america should see the price are service members are paying for their war.

Hey this isn't "their war" this is obama's war!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!