Pressing fight spurs more OEF deaths

Pressing fight spurs more OEF deaths

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jun 24, 2008 19:01:30 EDT

The recent spike in U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan is the result of greater contact with enemy insurgents, a growth in the complexity of their attacks and, in the east, their ability to slip away into a safe haven across the Pakistani border, the senior U.S. troop commander in that region said Tuesday.

At least 25 U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan since May 25, nine of them in NATO’s Regional Command East. The total exceeds the number of troops killed over the same period in neighboring Iraq, where far more U.S. troops are deployed. 22 troops have lost their lives in Iraq over the past four weeks.

According to the independent Web site icasualties.org, which tracks coalition deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq, 110 coalition troops, 57 of them U.S., have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year.

The figures include four soldiers — three of them New York National Guardsmen — killed June 21 in Kandahar. Those deaths were announced by the Pentagon late Tuesday afternoon.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/military_afghanistan_casualties_062408w/

These are the deaths.
887 06/21/08 Walton, James J. Lieutenant Colonel 41 US U.S. Army Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Hostile - hostile fire - IED, small arms fire Kandahar Afghanistan Rockville Maryland

886 06/21/08 Mangano, Anthony L. Specialist 36 US U.S. Army National Guard 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition) Hostile - hostile fire - IED, small arms fire Kandahar Afghanistan Greenlawn New York

885 06/21/08 Ramirez, Nelson D. Rodriguez Sergeant 22 US U.S. Army National Guard 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition) Hostile - hostile fire - IED, small arms fire Kandahar Afghanistan Revere Massachusetts

884 06/21/08 Seabrooks, Andrew Sergeant 36 US U.S. Army National Guard 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition) Hostile - hostile fire - IED, small arms fire Kandahar province Afghanistan Queens New York

890 06/20/08 Mendoza, Matthew E. Sergeant 24 US U.S. Marine 2nd BN, 7th Marine Reg, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force Hostile - hostile fire Helmand Province Afghanistan San Antonio Texas

889 06/20/08 Burnett, Dustin Kelby Hospitalman 19 US U.S. Navy
http://icasualties.org/OEF/Afghanistan.aspx

Why do we forget about Afghanistan? Why do we never seem to hear the reporters even ask about Afghanistan after all these years? Wasn't Afghanistan supposed to be about 9-11? Then why have we forgotten?

We argue about Iraq and ignore Afghanistan. In doing so, we fail to even attempt to witness the events the troops are going through simply because they are sent into both occupations. Some here in the US feel that there is nothing going on in Afghanistan but they are wrong. There is a lot being accomplished there, but one can't help but wonder what could have been accomplished had Iraq never been invaded? The men and women we send are worn out and the redeployments increase the risk of PTSD by 50% for each time sent back. Some thought the rates would remain low for PTSD with the lower rate of violence but they ignore the news coming out of Afghanistan and the tactics the Afghan Taliban have adopted with the suicide bombings and roadside bombs. The increase in violence there has allowed no time for rest for any of the troops. Being sent into Afghanistan is no longer an easier deployment. We need to pay attention to both occupations if we are ever really going to get prepared for what the troops will have to face when they come home. We are no where close to being able to take care of the wounded we have thus far. Where are we going to be a year from now, two years or ten years from now? Are we even worried enough to make sure we have it all in place for them?