Chart: Troop Levels in Afghanistan Over the Years

The two charts below show troop levels in Afghanistan, both over time and at present. The top chart shows U.S. troop levels, which have steadily risen and peaked this year. 30,000 additional U.S. troops will be deployed in the coming months.

(CBS/ AP)

The second chart shows how many troops various countries around the world now have deployed in Afghanistan. America has far and away the most troops in the country, followed by Britain, Germany and France.

(AP/NATO/Dept. of Defense)

[chitown639]

In the Vietnam war our troop level peaked at 540,000 U.S. troops....and we still lost that war. Afghanistan is nearly twice as big as Vietnam with tough mountainous terrain which is divided into several different tribal regions. There's no way we will take control of most of Afghanistan without at least an additional U.S. 300,000 troops......we may as well start the troop pullout today, before another American solider loses his or her life for a lost cause.

[alphagators64]

Different country, different politics, different military strategy, different White House, different Army, different terrain, different people, different enemy, different world, different military leadership, different goals. Vietnam is not Afghanistan and Afghanistan is not Vietnam. Ask the combat veterans who have been there and can tell you, not the politicos who have just their imaginations and personal ambitions.

[babooph]

The great ,loyal ally Israel has sent her usual number of troops to help,I see.....

[LogMaster]

HELP WANTED SUPPORTING U.S. ARMED FORCES

There's one thing about the discussion of whether you agree with sending more troops or if you disagree with sending more troops - it is a moot point - it's happening regardless. And where will the material support come from to feed, house and take care of all those U.S. and coalition troops?? Exactly who will build and maintain the infrastructure for the new and existing bases in Afghanistan?? logcap4jobs.com provides some incredibly honest, raw information for anyone considering going to work on the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, and what those intrepid enough to endure the living conditions for substantial compensation should expect. The U.S. and coalition troops look to civilians working on LOGCAP for their meals, to do their laundry, take out the trash, keep their living quarters warm in the winter, cool in the summer and much, much more. Imagine for a moment all the disciplines required to build a small city and you'll begin to get an idea of all the disciplines required to perform the monumental task required to support so many troops - engineers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, truck drivers, laborers, food service personnel, heavy equipment operators, administrative personnel, accounting and finance, HR, mechanics, water supply, refuse removal - the list goes on and on. All these disciplines plus dozens and dozens more must be supplied to the war fighter in order for them to concentrate on the mission at hand. logcap4jobs.com knows what it's talking about when it comes to the subject of supplying the support personell for what many have called the "shadow army" accompanying the troops.
It's a job.....and somebody's gotta do it.