U.S., NATO deaths from Afghan bombs up sixfold
By Jason Straziuso
Posted on Wed, Aug. 12, 2009
Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. and NATO deaths from roadside and suicide bomb blasts in Afghanistan soared sixfold in July compared with the same month last year, as militants detonated the highest number of bombs of the eight-year war, figures released yesterday showed.
Three U.S. Marines and a Polish soldier were killed in the latest attacks, setting August on course to surpass the record 75 deaths of U.S. and NATO troops from all causes in July.
U.S. commanders have long predicted that 2009 would be the deadliest of the war, after President Obama ordered an additional 21,000 troops here to try to quell the rising Taliban insurgency. A record 62,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan.
U.S., NATO, and Afghan troops are working to protect voting sites so Afghans can take part in their second-ever direct presidential election Aug. 20. Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt the elections, and attacks are rising around Afghanistan, where roadside bombs are now the cause of the majority of U.S. and NATO deaths.
snip
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20090812_U_S___NATO_deaths_from_Afghan_bombs_up_sixfold.html