Posted on 08/29/2010 2:08:01 AM PDT by Cardhu
KABUL, Afghanistan – Seven U.S. troops have died in weekend attacks in Afghanistan's embattled southern and eastern regions, NATO said Sunday.
Two servicemen died in bombings Sunday in southern Afghanistan, while two others were killed in a bomb attack in the south on Saturday and three in fighting in the east the same day, NATO said. Their identities and other details were being withheld until relatives could be notified.
The latest deaths bring to 42 the number of American forces who have died this month in Afghanistan after July's high of 66. A total of 62 international forces have died in the country this month, including seven British troops.
Fighting is intensifying with the addition of 30,000 U.S. troops to bring the total number of international forces in Afghanistan to 120,000 — 100,000 of them American. Most of those new troops have been assigned to the southern insurgent strongholds of Helmand and Kandahar provinces where major battles are fought almost daily as part of a gathering drive to push out the Taliban.
NATO said eight insurgents were killed in joint Afghan-NATO operations Saturday night in the province of Paktiya, including a Taliban commander, Naman, accused of coordinating roadside bomb attacks and the movement of ammunition, supplies and fighters.
Automatic weapons, grenades, magazines and bomb-making material were found in buildings in Zormat district along the mountainous border with Pakistan. Afghan leaders frequently complain that Pakistan is doing to little to prevent cross-border incursions and shut down insurgent safe havens in its territory.
Just south in Khost province, U.S. and Afghan troops fought back simultaneous attacks Saturday by around 50 insurgents wearing American uniforms and suicide vests on a pair of bases, including one where seven CIA employees died in a suicide attack last year.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
RIP.
As a Nam Vet I am getting more angry, disgusted and demoralized over what I perceive is slowly turning into "Déjà vus all over again!"
I worry (and pray) for our Military but if they are going to be hamstrung with overly restrictive ROE's and NOT allowed to prevail (much like we were not) then perhaps it's time to consider an alternate strategy, to include, pulling most of them out and use Drones and Special Ops instead?
I think the real mistake was the Obama Administration’s attempt to treat Afghanistan strategically the same way that the Bush Administration treated Iraq — ie. with a “Surge”. Afghanistan is an undeveloped country. Limited road networks, etc. You put large forces in Afghanistan in an attempt to dominate that country (the way we did in Iraq) and you’re asking for trouble. This is why the Bush/Cheyney/Rumsfeld Strategy of a “Light Footprint” made a lot of sense.
It was enough to deny Afghanistan to the Taliban. Our Spec Ops units could go wherever they wanted, whenever they wanted and essentially dominate the Taliban if they attempted to make a stand. Now our heavy forces are defending ‘listening posts’, fixed firebases and roads. Sound familiar?
We are essentially repeating the Russian experience there.
Obama simply had to prove he was a tough-guy. All he succeeded in proving is that he’s an idiot.
sad to hear since I think its unnecessary
sad to hear.I think its unnecessary. praying for soldiers and families who paid the ultimate price.
Very sad. If Bush is Prez now, this will be the topic on Sunday shows. Now, it ‘s not even breaking news. Biased media will not even report this.
“7 US troops died this weekend in Afghanistan..
But in other news, the obama family savored the local produce during their vacation on Martha’s Vineyard as the president hit the golf links with ever more democrat donors...”
The only caveat I would add is that it has already turned into deja vu all over again
ROE and pre ordained withdrawal dates sound quite familiar don't they?
Salute.
as a Nam Vet I am getting more angry, disgusted and demoralized over what I perceive is slowly turning into “Déjà vus all over again!”
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
And yet, when ‘we’ predicted this farce happening BEFORE they tried to do what Russia ‘gave up’ trying, ‘we’ were told..oh no, this is a different situation.
The dummies just didn’t realize (or admit) that the ‘failure’ we were talking about was akin to the BS that took part in VN.
And YES, OB supporters, it was Rumsfeld and Bush that injected us into ‘Indian Country’ but as pointed out earlier, at least with SF types we were able to ‘mingle’ a whole lot easier.
Turn our troops and weapons loose and the ‘problem’ is solved.
Look for those poor ‘advisors’ left in Iraq to come under some heavy fire. Actually, it has already started with the attacks on the ‘local’ military and police facilities. Once they ‘soften’ up their own, we will become sitting ducks.
Parking lots anyone?
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
Great quote.
Is that the motto of every madrassa iman?
Prayers.
I bow my head( after I type) head,and will say a long prayer something like this: for our soldiers, our vets, and for the family and friends of all killed by these terroists. And Lord please let every weapon headed for israel INCLUDING this Persian nuke facility implode upon the enemies of the true people of G!D, which is all Christians and Jews, as You even prayed O Lord for those you have, those You hold dearly in Your hands to keep them safe, and let the rest go swiftly to Gehenna.
Good way to weed them out!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.