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Sep 6th, 2010


Afghan Foreign Troops Death Toll hits 500 for 2010

Violence across Afghanistan worst since 2001

Image: Brothers of Jacob Leicht
Jonathan Leicht, left, and Jesse Leicht pose with a photo of their brother, Marine Cpl. Jacob Leicht, on Saturday, May 29, 2010 in Kerrville, Texas. Their brother was killed while on patrol in Afghanistan, May 28, 2010, making him the 1,000th U.S. serviceman killed in the Afghan conflict. (Photo credit: Eric Gay / AP)


September 6, 2010

KABUL — The number of foreign troops killed in Afghanistan this year has reached at least 500, compared with 521 in all of 2009, according to an independent monitoring site Monday and a tally compiled by Reuters. …

There has been a sharp increase in foreign military deaths, many of them American, as foreign troops launch more operations to counter a growing Taliban-led insurgency that has spread out of traditional strongholds in the south and east. …

Violence across Afghanistan has hit its worst since the Taliban were ousted by U.S.-backed Afghan forces in late 2001. Military and civilian casualties are at record levels, with U.S. and NATO commanders warning of more tough fighting ahead [link added].

The spiraling death tolls come despite the presence of almost 150,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan and will be another worrying statistic when U.S. President Barack Obama conducts a strategy review of the war in December.

Public support for the war is flagging [link added], with a recent opinion poll by NBC television and the Wall Street Journal showing as many as seven in 10 Americans saying they did not believe the war would end successfully.

The traditional summer fighting period has taken a heavy toll on foreign troops this year. A total of 102 were killed in June, the deadliest month of the war [link added], followed by 88 in July and another 80 in August, according to independent monitor icasualties.org.

The latest casualties take to 2,068 the number killed since 2001, almost half of them in 2009 and 2010. Roughly 60 percent of those killed were Americans.

Despite the heavy military toll, ordinary Afghans continue to bear the brunt of the war.

A United Nations report released last month showed that civilian casualties had risen by 31 percent [link added] in the first six months of 2010, compared with the same period last year, with more than three-quarters of the casualties caused by insurgents.

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Related reports on this site


A crowd of Afghan protesters destroy a car during clashes with police following Friday prayers in Kabul on July 30, 2010. Rioting erupted when scores of Afghan men set fire to two U.S. embassy vehicles after one collided with a civilian car killing a number of occupants, officials and witnesses said. (Photo credit: Yuri Cortez / AFP — Getty Images)

‘Tough Days Ahead’ in Afghanistan (Sept. 3, 2010)

Taliban Slaughter in Afghanistan (Sept. 1, 2010)

Most Americans Oppose Afghan War (Aug. 20, 2010)

Afghan Civilian Deaths Up 31% (Aug. 13, 2010)

Support for Afghan War Plummets (Aug. 4, 2010)

Afghan War Deadlier Than Ever (July 31, 2010)

Concerns Grow About Afghan War (July 17, 2010)

24 Minus 8 in Afghanistan (July 14, 2010)

Deadliest Month in Afghanistan (July 5, 2010)

Afghanistan: Not Up to Snuff (June 28, 2010)

America’s Longest War (June 7, 2010)

1,000 Troops Killed in Afghanistan (May 29, 2010)

Tough Days Ahead in Afghanistan (May 13, 2010)

Taliban First Strike on U.S. Soil (May 8, 2010)

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — September 6, 2009

Capitol_Sarah-Moore_Angela-Rodgers_02-19-2009
Sarah Moore and Angela Rodgers in the Capitol rotunda.

Obama Agenda At Crossroads

One year ago today, I reported that opinion polls showed support for President Barack Obama and his policies dipping sharply, though he remained personally more popular than his policies. How will those dynamics impact the 2010 election and what do they tell us about President Obama’s personal qualities and leadership style?

Click image for larger view
Obama Leadership Style poster
“The Personality Profile of President Barack Obama: Leadership Implications.” Research poster presented by Sarah Moore, 44th annual Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, April 18, 2009, College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minn. (Supervisor: Aubrey Immelman, Ph.D.)

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: Two Years Ago — September 6, 2008

On the Campaign Trail: Day 54

Rice-Constituents_09-07-2008
Campaigning at the Old Creamery Arts & Crafts Show in Rice.

Two years ago today, on the 54th day of my 2008 campaign against U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, volunteers handed out campaign literature in downtown Forest Lake (Washington County) and at the Old Creamery Arts & Crafts Show in Rice (Benton County), while I had a meet-and-greet at the Saint John’s University football season opener in Collegeville. I also featured information from the WCCO voter guide regarding my campaign platform and issue positions.





5 Responses to “Record Afghan War Dead”
  1. Immelman for Congress » Blog Archive » Colin Powell on Afghan Policy Says:

    […] Violence is at its worst across Afghanistan since the Taliban was ousted by U.S.-backed Afghan forces in 2001, with military and civilian casualties at record levels. […]

  2. Immelman for Congress » Blog Archive » Afghanistan Worn-Out Welcome Says:

    […] Record Afghan War Dead (Sept. 6, 2010) […]

  3. Immelman for Congress » Blog Archive » Suicide Bomber Strikes Sweden Says:

    […] Record Afghan War Dead (Sept. 6, 2010) […]

  4. Immelman for Congress » Blog Archive » September 6, 2011 Says:

    […] Record Afghanistan War Dead […]

  5. Immelman for Congress » Blog Archive » Afghan Civilian Deaths Reach New Record High Says:

    […] Record Afghan War Dead (Sept. 6, 2010) […]

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