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US Toll in Afghanistan Nears That in Iraq
By Jim Michaels,
USA Today
Posted: 2008-07-01 14:20:19
WASHINGTON (July 1) — U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan are approximating those in Iraq, reflecting a shifting balance in the two wars the United States is fighting.
Iraq has grown more stable as violence in Afghanistan increased, prompting a renewed look at whether the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan should grow as forces draw down in Iraq.
Iraq and Afghanistan: Comparing the Wars
Honor guard member fold a flag during the funeral for Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Duane Kettle of Texas City, Texas, on Aug. 22, 2007Win McNamee, Getty Images
Troop Deaths: The number of U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan per month is now about equal to those in Iraq. In June, 45 international troops, including 27 Americans, died in the Afghan war's deadliest month to date. In Iraq, June's death toll was 31, including 29 Americans.
From CNN.com: US and Coalition Casualties in Iraq
"At what point do U.S. combat forces, and in particular the Marine Corps, shift from what is a dramatically improved security situation in Iraq to one that needs to be dramatically improved in Afghanistan?" Gen. Robert Magnus, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, said recently in an interview at the Pentagon.
At least 45 international troops — including at least 27 U.S. and 13 British servicemembers — died in Afghanistan in June, the deadliest month since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, according to an Associated Press count.
In Iraq, at least 31 international troops died in June, including 29 Americans, according to the AP.
President Bush, who will leave office in January, has pledged a further increase in U.S. forces next year.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said the U.S. role in Afghanistan has broad political support, and he expects the next administration would follow through on the pledge.
Any increase in U.S. forces would have to be gradual as they remain stretched.
The Army has pledged to reduce the length of combat tours and increase the amount of downtime between combat deployments as troop levels in Iraq decline.
Unlike Iraq, the war in Afghanistan is primarily a NATO mission. The U.S. government has urged its allies to provide more forces for Afghanistan but has had limited success.
About half of the almost 60,000 international troops in Afghanistan are American. There are 144,000 U.S. and 4,000 British troops in Iraq.
Enemy attacks in Afghanistan have increased every year since 2002, said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-82 in Afghanistan.
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/us-toll-in-afghanistan-nears-that-in/20080701092009990001
By Jim Michaels,
USA Today
Posted: 2008-07-01 14:20:19
WASHINGTON (July 1) — U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan are approximating those in Iraq, reflecting a shifting balance in the two wars the United States is fighting.
Iraq has grown more stable as violence in Afghanistan increased, prompting a renewed look at whether the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan should grow as forces draw down in Iraq.
Iraq and Afghanistan: Comparing the Wars
Honor guard member fold a flag during the funeral for Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Duane Kettle of Texas City, Texas, on Aug. 22, 2007Win McNamee, Getty Images
Troop Deaths: The number of U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan per month is now about equal to those in Iraq. In June, 45 international troops, including 27 Americans, died in the Afghan war's deadliest month to date. In Iraq, June's death toll was 31, including 29 Americans.
From CNN.com: US and Coalition Casualties in Iraq
"At what point do U.S. combat forces, and in particular the Marine Corps, shift from what is a dramatically improved security situation in Iraq to one that needs to be dramatically improved in Afghanistan?" Gen. Robert Magnus, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, said recently in an interview at the Pentagon.
At least 45 international troops — including at least 27 U.S. and 13 British servicemembers — died in Afghanistan in June, the deadliest month since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, according to an Associated Press count.
In Iraq, at least 31 international troops died in June, including 29 Americans, according to the AP.
President Bush, who will leave office in January, has pledged a further increase in U.S. forces next year.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said the U.S. role in Afghanistan has broad political support, and he expects the next administration would follow through on the pledge.
Any increase in U.S. forces would have to be gradual as they remain stretched.
The Army has pledged to reduce the length of combat tours and increase the amount of downtime between combat deployments as troop levels in Iraq decline.
Unlike Iraq, the war in Afghanistan is primarily a NATO mission. The U.S. government has urged its allies to provide more forces for Afghanistan but has had limited success.
About half of the almost 60,000 international troops in Afghanistan are American. There are 144,000 U.S. and 4,000 British troops in Iraq.
Enemy attacks in Afghanistan have increased every year since 2002, said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-82 in Afghanistan.
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/us-toll-in-afghanistan-nears-that-in/20080701092009990001
