thedrifter
03-02-09, 07:15 AM
03/01/2009 06:16 PM
Casualties in Afghanistan on the rise, AP says
By: Smitha Rao
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Just days after President Barack Obama spoke to Marines at Camp Lejeune, the Associated Press reported that 29 U.S. troops died in Afghanistan in the first two months of 2009.
Only eight American soldiers in Afghanistan in the first two months of 2008.
Among this year’s casualties are several Camp Lejeune Marines, including 25-year-old Sgt. David Wallace and 23-year-old Sgt. Trevor Johnson.
The AP said an influx of troops into the war zone may account for part of the increasing death toll.
During his speech Friday, the president addressed the new dangers Marines will face.
“There will be more danger in the months ahead,” Obama said. “We will face new tests and trials, but thanks to the sacrifices who have served, we have forged hard earned progress. We are leaving Iraq to its people. And we have begun the work of ending this war.”
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates appeared on “Meet the Press” Sunday morning. He also talked about the new challenges in Afghanistan.
“We are providing a level of stability in Afghanistan that at least prevents it from being a safe haven from which plots against the United States and the Europeans and others can be put together. So that border area, particularly the Pakistani side, is the most worrisome,” Gates said.
Gates acknowledged that there are many unanswered questions.
“We’re talking to the Europeans, to our allies. We’re bringing in an awful lot of people to get different points of view as we go through this review of what our strategy ought to be. And I often get asked, ‘How long will those 17,000 be there? Will more go in?’ All of that depends on the outcome of this strategy review that I hope will be done in a few weeks,” he said.
And while those questions may be answered soon, the president said he welcome the change to focus on Afghanistan.
Video
http://news14.com/content/local_news/sandhills/605714/casualties-in-afghanistan-on-the-rise--ap-says/Default.aspx
Ellie
Casualties in Afghanistan on the rise, AP says
By: Smitha Rao
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Just days after President Barack Obama spoke to Marines at Camp Lejeune, the Associated Press reported that 29 U.S. troops died in Afghanistan in the first two months of 2009.
Only eight American soldiers in Afghanistan in the first two months of 2008.
Among this year’s casualties are several Camp Lejeune Marines, including 25-year-old Sgt. David Wallace and 23-year-old Sgt. Trevor Johnson.
The AP said an influx of troops into the war zone may account for part of the increasing death toll.
During his speech Friday, the president addressed the new dangers Marines will face.
“There will be more danger in the months ahead,” Obama said. “We will face new tests and trials, but thanks to the sacrifices who have served, we have forged hard earned progress. We are leaving Iraq to its people. And we have begun the work of ending this war.”
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates appeared on “Meet the Press” Sunday morning. He also talked about the new challenges in Afghanistan.
“We are providing a level of stability in Afghanistan that at least prevents it from being a safe haven from which plots against the United States and the Europeans and others can be put together. So that border area, particularly the Pakistani side, is the most worrisome,” Gates said.
Gates acknowledged that there are many unanswered questions.
“We’re talking to the Europeans, to our allies. We’re bringing in an awful lot of people to get different points of view as we go through this review of what our strategy ought to be. And I often get asked, ‘How long will those 17,000 be there? Will more go in?’ All of that depends on the outcome of this strategy review that I hope will be done in a few weeks,” he said.
And while those questions may be answered soon, the president said he welcome the change to focus on Afghanistan.
Video
http://news14.com/content/local_news/sandhills/605714/casualties-in-afghanistan-on-the-rise--ap-says/Default.aspx
Ellie