U.S. Suffering Deadliest Afghan Year

Two U.S. Troop Deaths Mark 113 For The Year; Most Since 2001 Invasion

(AP)  Insurgents killed two U.S. troops in Afghanistan on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Thursday, making 2008 the deadliest year for American forces since U.S. troops invaded the country in 2001 for sheltering Osama bin Laden.

The deaths brought the number of troops who have died in Afghanistan this year to 113, according to an Associated Press tally, surpassing last year's record toll of 111.

Afghanistan was the launching pad for al Qaeda's terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. U.S. forces invaded in October 2001 in response and quickly drove the Taliban out of power.

Across Afghanistan, U.S. troops paused in silence Thursday to commemorate the 9/11 attacks. At a U.S. base in Kabul, members of the New York National Guard, many of whom served at the site of the World Trade Center after the towers came down, remembered the attack on their home state.

"For those of us who were there, served at Ground Zero, 9/11 is deeply personal," said Col. Brian K. Bale, the commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Maj. Stephen Bousquet, 34, of Buffalo, N.Y., provided security at Ground Zero for three weeks after the attack. He now trains and mentors Afghan police, he said, "so American and coalition forces can leave one day."

Osama bin Laden, leader of the al Qaeda network, is believed to be in the lawless tribal belt on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He had been sheltered by Taliban leader Mullah Omar before 9/11.

Taliban fighters folded in easy defeat in fall 2001 in what at first appeared to be a resounding U.S. victory. But militants that U.S. commanders once derided as ragtag amateurs have transformed into a fighting force advanced enough to mount massive conventional attacks. Suicide and roadside bombs have turned bigger and deadlier than ever.

The number of Arab, Chechen and Uzbek militants flowing into the Afghan-Pakistan region has increased this year, bringing with them command expertise the Taliban lacked.

U.S. death tolls have climbed sharply from the first years of the war. Only five American service members died in 2001. Thirty service members died in both 2002 and 2003; the toll climbed to 49 in 2004, then 93 in 2005 and 88 in 2006.

Last year 111 troops died, including one killed by a sniper while meeting with Pakistani officers in Pakistan. That mark was surpassed Thursday - with more than three months left in the year - reflecting both the increased number of American troops deployed to Afghanistan as well as the insurgency's increasing potency.

Top U.S. generals, European leaders and analysts say the blame lies to the east, in militant sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan. As long as those areas remain havens where fighters arm, train, recruit and plot increasingly sophisticated ambushes, the Afghan war will continue to sour.

"What you have is a broad expansion on the front, and because of this you have expansion in areas of the Taliban. Even in areas where there is no substantial fighting, the presence of insurgents has increased," said Anthony Cordesman, a security expert with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"You have less cooperation from Pakistan, and there's political disarray," which creates a situation where there is little security and stability, Cordesman said. "You also have a weak government that is incapable of maintaining a significant presence in high threat areas."

Since the 2001 invasion, a total of 519 U.S. troops have died in the Afghan war, including those killed in border areas of Pakistan and in Uzbekistan, which was a staging area in 2001. An additional 65 more have died outside the Afghan region in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, according to the Defense Department.

The Pentagon says 117 U.S. service members died last year in Operation Enduring Freedom, but that includes six deaths outside the Afghan region: two in the Philippines, two in Ethiopia, one in Somalia and one in the Gulf.

The NATO-led force in Afghanistan said one soldier was killed Thursday in the east when insurgents attacked a compound. The separate U.S.-led coalition said a second service member died while conducting combat operations. No other details were released, but a Western military official told The Associated Press that both troops were American.

Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the spokesman for Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense, noted the militants aren't just targeting U.S. forces. He said Afghan soldiers and police have also suffered a record number of casualties over the past year. Figures weren't immediately available.

President Bush announced this week that he was sending an Army brigade and a Marine battalion to Afghanistan in November to replace two that are scheduled to leave.

Some 33,000 U.S. troops are now stationed in the country, the highest level since 2001. Overall, more than 65,000 troops from 40 nations are deployed in Afghanistan.

U.S. commanders in Afghanistan say they need another 10,000 troops - even more than the deployment plan Bush announced. The commanders also urge more nonmilitary aid and say the Afghan government must perform better.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the House Armed Services Committee this week that, "I'm not convinced we're winning in Afghanistan. I'm convinced we can."

[dbor77]

I just find it interesting that it has taken the Bush Administration this long to figure out that we should have our troops in Afghanistan lookin for Bin Laden. I bet you the U.S. is hiding Bin Laden someone..I bet you he''s enjoying the good life as he is being kept on hold for just the right moment. I know they are going to bring him out right before Nov. 4th. This administration and the McCain camp are so desperate to win the election. But if they bring Bin Laden out captured before the election it will just show that ok we can end the war, so they won''t be able to continue the endless war. It will also go to show that it took them a ridiculous amount of time to find this guy and the timing will be extremely suspicious. I think it will work against the republicans to bring Bin Laden out...in the end. I say Obama and Biden release all the documents, emails, everything they can from this administration once they get in the White House and prosecute Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfield..and others for the crimes they have committed while in power.

[samsel3]

More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the TAPI Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.



February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.

In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"

UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ". A consortium of oil & gas companies have taken over where UNOCAL left off.

[republic1776]

The war was saved for the Democrats.
Not matter what party wins we will still be at war.
Our elected leaders only pretend to dislike each other to divide our nation. They don''t want a third part to mess up their golden game of hood-winking us.
Most of the House are leeches, it''s all about power and money. They really don''t give a rats arse about America.
Vote Bob Barr 08

[hbevis]

Afganistan, the war America should have fought and finished.


----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------

We would have if some big dummy hadn''''t started a unecessary war somewhere else to defend his dads honor and get oil and contracts for haliburtin.

Posted by onemoretim at 06:42 AM : Sep 12, 2008

Posted by jamster31 at 11:23 AM : Sep 12, 2008

The Russians fought the Afghan''s for years and then more or less just gave up and left...

They have troops that are about as good as the United States have. I know that we need to eliminate the Taliban, but we are between a rock and a hard place.
If we can''t come up with something to do that the Russians did not do then we are at a stand still.

[jamster31]

Afganistan, the war America should have fought and finished.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We would have if some big dummy hadn''t started a unecessary war somewhere else to defend his dads honor and get oil and contracts for haliburtin.

Posted by onemoretim at 06:42 AM : Sep 12, 2008

[kwvaughn1]

"This pipeline is going to be vital to the US and to big oil. We should not complain about how many lives we have to sacrifice to get it.
----
Posted by OlFishGut"


But I thought it wasn''t about oil. Isn''t it unpatriotic to even suggest it''s about oil? If it isn''t now, it sure was about 5 years ago.

[kwvaughn1]

"Someone please tell me if I have my priorities right:

1) Hunt for OBL like the animal that he is.
2) Do away with Al Qaeda by winning Hearts & Minds with good police work instead of war, death and destruction.
3) Go after the Taliban. Let them know who the boss is and how they''''re not allowed to work in this planet anymore.
4) And then, and only then, invade a Middle Eastern country with the hope it can be used to spread Democracy. A dubious idea that really doesn;t even merit being on any priority list."
Posted by closethippy1 at 05:14 AM : Sep 12, 2008

your priorities seem perfect to me.

[tapsettle]

This pipeline is going to be vital to the US and to big oil. We should not complain about how many lives we have to sacrifice to get it.
----
Posted by OlFishGut

Yes OlFishBrains, if we all die it will still be OURS .... all OURS .... HA HA HA HA HA ... we WIN .... all OURS .....

[olfishgut]

This pipeline is going to be vital to the US and to big oil. We should not complain about how many lives we have to sacrifice to get it.

[tapsettle]

Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and others had planned to invade Iraq for years. Why do you think the US is still there?
Also, Bin Laden is a saudi, almost all the 9-11 hijackers were saudis. Why not a word of anger (let alone invasion) against Saudi Arabia? Did you know Bush let his saudi friends fly out after 9-11 when no-one else was allowed to fly out?
They ridicule 9-11 conspiracies to detract from a real one. Bush, with the help of his saudi friends, allowed 9-11 to happen. That paved the way for his long-planned invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Do you think Karzai was democratically elected in Afghanistan? He has been almost a life-long friend and business partner of the Bush family. Go check it out if you dont believe me. Type in Bush Karzai pipeline on a search.
Yes, Bin Ladens mortal status is of little relevance. Watch out for the next justification of a US onslaught ... probably against Iran following a ''provocation''.

[samsel3]

More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the TAPI Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.



February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.

In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"

UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ". A consortium of oil & gas companies have taken over where UNOCAL left off.

[petro49l]

George W. Bush does not care how many American Soldiers are killed in Afghanistan. They are a sacrifice for a higher price on a barrel of oil from the Saudis. Bin Laden gladly murders Coalition Troops to protect his narcotics business. Drug Addicts pay a great deal of money for Osama''s tar heroin.

[tapsettle]

withdraw ALL support monetary and otherwise, and let ''''em stew in their own sauce.... tell them, "they''''re YOUR people, it''''s YOUR mess, YOU deal with it!"
----
Posted by Demongirl60

Another dumb american. Dont you think the US might be just a tad responsible for the mess in Iraq and Afghanistan? It would be like you going next door, killing half your neighbours and battling the other half for years, destroying their property, their relatives, and then claiming THEY made the mess. Jeeps you really are DUMB.

[closethippy1]

Someone please tell me if I have my priorities right:

1) Hunt for OBL like the animal that he is.
2) Do away with Al Qaeda by winning Hearts & Minds with good police work instead of war, death and destruction.
3) Go after the Taliban. Let them know who the boss is and how they''re not allowed to work in this planet anymore.
4) And then, and only then, invade a Middle Eastern country with the hope it can be used to spread Democracy. A dubious idea that really doesn;t even merit being on any priority list.

[trrrorislamj]

STOP AMNESTY,,, VOTE GOP,,,

ummmm it is the DEMONIC-RATS that want to grant amnesty to illegals,,, including HUSSEIN,,,

HUSSEINs solution for illegals is to grant them amnesty and have americans learn SPANISH,,,

words out of his own mouth,,,

AMERICANS NEED TO LEARN SPANISH,,,

Obama to America--Learn Spanish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W7srmHLclw

Barack Obama: Your Children Should Learn To Speak Spanish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZprtPat1Vk

HUSSEIN SUPPORTS AMNESTY TO THE FULLEST,,,

from his own website,,,

Barack Obama On Amnesty
Barack Obama supports amnesty to the fullest.
http://www.barackobamawin.com/barack-obama-amnesty.htm

[wardoglrs]

McCain, Obama Sound Call To Serve:
In other words there will be more wars as McCain has stated and Obama is all for it other wise why would they push something thats voluntary so hard. Why not push for the Boy scouts or community service? No it''''s soldiers for war so your children better get ready to die for the f***ing banks.
VOTE 3RD PARTY AND THROW THESE LOW LIFES OUT.You wont come the same person your life will be a living hell

[downtowner97]

Terrorislam, you''ve got so many inaccuracies in that last post. Let me correct them in order. Democrats aren''t the minority. Only 30% of Americans support Bush now. The only way the Dems were able to take a majoirty in the house and senate in the midterm election was with a majority of the votes. The largest landslide in my lifetime was Reagan over Mondale, and even that wasn''t 90%, so I have no idea what you''re talking about. I voted for Reagan.

Under Bush, record numbers of small businesses are failing. Bush calls his time running Harken energy small business experience. Harken was hardly small.

Education has suffered under Bush. Our kids'' test scores are pitiful. Our neighborhoods are drug-ridden and dangerous, and our economy is in ruins.

The Republican party is in favor of immigration, amnesty, borrowing money from Communist China, torture, teen pregnancy, and we''re talking to Quadaffi like he''s an old friend.

[trrrorislamj]

DEMONIC-RAT MINORITIES REALLY NEED TO ASK THEMSELVES,,,

"We''ve given 90 percent of our vote to one party basically since the 60s and are we where we thought we would be by doing that?" Honeycutt told AFP, adding that as a private doctor she had become angered by all the red tape, rules and regulations she felt were holding back small businesses.
"Are our children better educated? Are our neighborhoods safer? Are we economically better off? The answer is a resounding No!"
"The reasons I chose the Republican party is because the values and principles of the Republican are similar to mine."
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080905164053.kt1koqqw&show_article=1

JOIN THE BOYCOTT,,,

http://www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr07-28-08.html

DOPRAH THE SEXIST PARTISAN HACK,,,

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash3os.htm

[downtowner97]

"McCain had roughly 20 hours in combat," explains Bill Bell, a veteran of Vietnam and former chief of the U.S. Office for POW/MIA Affairs -- the first official U.S. representative in Vietnam since the 1973 fall of Saigon. "Since McCain got 28 medals," Bell continues, "that equals out to about a medal-and-a-half for each hour he spent in combat. There were infantry guys -- grunts on the ground -- who had more than 7,000 hours in combat and I can tell you that there were times and situations where I''m sure a prison cell would have looked pretty good to them by comparison. The question really is how many guys got that number of medals for not being shot down."

[downtowner97]

Crashing 5 planes and spending 5 years prepares you to be president? The only reason they gave McCain 5 planes to crash was that his dad and his grandfather were both admirals. The only reason it was only 5 planes was because the North Vietnamese locked him up. He might have crashed many more planes, and might not even be alive to run for president.