Eight killed in battle in Afghanistan's east

[Rhiannon12866]

Source: Reuters

KHOST, Afghanistan, July 21 (Reuters) - At least eight people were killed when Taliban guerrillas, including waves of suicide bombers, attacked government buildings in a town in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, residents and officials said.

The Taliban, leading a growing insurgency against the Western-backed government and seeking to drive foreign forces out of Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the assault.

It said 15 suicide bombers were involved in the attacks on government buildings in Gardez, capital of eastern Paktia province.

Two provincial officials in Gardez said at least five members of the Afghan security forces and three Taliban fighters had been killed as gunbattles raged in the town.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

At least two of the suicide bombers were dressed in traditional head-to-toe burqas worn by many Afghan women, said an Afghan source working for a foreign aid agency.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP480055

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The most dangerous month for US troops in Afghanistan since the launch of the war... ;(

[jakeXT]

1. looks like it's only going up YoY

2005 131
2006 191
2007 232
2008 294
2009 213

http://icasualties.org/oef/

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Thanks for the numbers... It's definitely escalating, just in the past days.

Also just heard this on MSNBC early news, US casualties have already surpassed any other month since the launch of this war, and it's just past the middle of the month... ;(

[jakeXT]

3. 57 for July, that's just as much as the whole year in 2003.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Yikes!!! How frightening is this?!

Thanks to reassigning US troops from Afghanistan to Iraq, ostensibly abandoning the mission there begun after 9/11, what have we accomplished there other than more loss of life and a quagmire that we should have learned from the failed Russian invasion? Why are we there now? What is the mission now? Does anyone remember after eight long years? It turned out much differently than Americans originally expected, thanks to Bush*'s ill conceived invasion of Iraq. We need to bring these troops home, too... :-(

[Dennis Donovan]

4. Important thread...

...recommended.:thumbsup:

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Thanks! This is especially important now, since the news isn't covering either war,

With the death of Michael Jackson, the numerous Republican sex scandals, the antics of Sarah Palin and the rise of the "birthers..." x(

Kerry recalled the question he asked after returning from Vietnam -- "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" -- and said he "never thought" he'd be "reliving the need to ask that question again." ;(

[Rhiannon12866]

7. BTW,

I meant to also extend a belated welcome to DU, jakeXT! It's great to have have another informed mind with us! :toast: :hi: