American Killed in Afghan Battle

(AP)  Last Updated 9:41 a.m. ET.

An American service member was fatally wounded by insurgent fire in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said Sunday, bringing to at least 39 the number of U.S. troops killed this month in the country.

Officials released no other details about the Saturday battle, which was reported by the NATO command. A U.S. military spokesman, Navy reservist Lt. j.g. Tommy Groves, would only confirm that the service member was American.

July has been the deadliest month for U.S. and NATO forces in the Afghan war. Some 60,000 U.S. forces now operate in Afghanistan — a record number. President Barack Obama has increased the U.S. focus on Afghanistan as American troops pull out of Iraq.

Overall, at least 68 international troops have died in July.

Also Sunday, one of President Hamid Karzai's vice presidential running mates in next month's election escaped injury when his convoy came under fire in northern Afghanistan, officials said.

Mohammad Qasim Fahim, the former commander of the Northern Alliance that helped oust the Taliban in 2001, was traveling from Kunduz to Takhar province when militants opened fire on his 30-vehicle convoy, according to Kunduz Gov. Mohammad Omar.

A Karzai aide, Abdul Jalal, said one cameraman working for the campaign was wounded and Fahim's armored car was struck by bullets but the candidate was not hurt.

[jwesel1]

Seems the graveyard of empires is living upto its reputation. It took Afghans 13 years to kick out the Soviets.

[mysteriousjz]

"9/11 dwellers" are intellectually challenged. They just take what they are given to their ears and brains by the politicians and military industrial complex. Whoever did it, they are gone, history, move on. You cant just let it hover around your head and keep bombing the world. The spector of 9/11 does not justify thousands of 9/11 bestowed upon indigenous people of mudhouses.

Calling indigenous people of continent does not justify brutal and barbaric imperialism. Don't fly your panties up in the air "crying wounded and shooting." Enough already!!!! Your children will keep paying the price dearly... war is not a video game for those on the receiving end... remember that!

[Benton09]

AfVietnamistan.....$$$$$ for the Industrial War Complex....White Crosses for the men and women that fight for their profits.

[naj1953]

Bring Our Troops Home.... The Middle East is not worth one more life of an USA soldier......

[wyodutch]

58,000 Americans turned into corpses in Viet Nam. Remember that little escapade? Remember how the politicians thundered that if we didn't fight them in the paddies, we have to fight them on our beaches?

Today, Vietnamese military officers enroll at a military language school in San Antonio for English classes financed by the Pentagon's International Military Education and Training program that is open to friendly countries.

In motorbike-crazy Vietnam, Harley-Davidson, the all-American company, has sensed an opportunity. It won concessions in recent trade talks to have tariffs on heavy cycles lifted, and plans to open a showroom soon.

In one of the most significant new American investments, Intel chose Ho Chi Minh City as the site of a $600 million microchip plant that will begin production in 2008. With Vietnam's membership in the World Trade Organization expected in the fall, scouts for American banks, and insurance and telecommunications companies are knocking on doors here, poised to invest.

So don't spout the baloney that the war in Afghanistan is worth the life of even one American.

[wyodutch]

"You made them strong... We made them... er, well, uhh."

[Addy_1776]

Bin Laden was throwing threats, even before our troops was sent, and he was throwing even way more promises to make us lose souls in our home, yet he didn't do it.
I really doubt that Bin Laden is now able to do any attack, would be nice if we get him arrested, but if we can't seek a person in those too many caves in the helly mountains of Afghanistan , then why bothering losing all those good soldiers and needed money???

[Addy_1776]

Sorry for the double post, but I meant, that he didn't do any attack on U.S after 9/11 attacks and after our troops were sent.

[harpoot]

"How many did we send to the cemetery on 9-11????"

About 3K. Not like the 300K plus Bushit killed. Beat your collective chest you arm chair, beer gut warrior wanna-be's

[underdogus09]

Afghanistan "the graveyard of empires".

[babooph]

Odd the US propaganda system is getting less vocal about claiming these military guys "died for their country"not many have the gag reflex control for that anymore.