thedrifter
08-12-09, 06:24 AM
Murphy gets look at Afghanistan war
By: GARY WECKSELBLATT
The Intelligencer
He returned from a trip where he met with American military personnel and Afghan leaders.
After spending several days in the "most dangerous place in the world," Congressman Patrick Murphy returned home Tuesday from Afghanistan and Iraq where he "thanked soldiers and got an assessment from our military leaders."
Murphy, D-8, led a congressional delegation into the Taliban strongholds as a revamped war plan for Afghanistan is taking hold and violence has escalated.
"I spoke to our young men and women, our true heroes, and thanked them," he said, "and they're thanking me when I haven't done anything. They're the ones working in 120-degree heat, having to worry about our next roadside bomb going off."
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 Tuesday showed.
Three U.S. Marines and a Polish soldier died in the latest attacks, setting August on course to surpass the record 75 deaths U.S. and NATO troops suffered from all causes in July. Forty-four Americans died last month.
"We're going to parts of Afghanistan where the Taliban and Al-Qaeda are strongest to root them out," Murphy said.
U.S. commanders have long predicted that 2009 would be the deadliest year of the war, after President Barack Obama ordered an additional 21,000 troops into Afghanistan to try to quell the rising Taliban insurgency. A record 62,000 U.S. troops are now in Afghanistan.
Murphy, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said his "intense schedule" included talks with leaders concerning the country's poppy and opium trade. He said the U.S. is hoping to bring economic stability to the area by helping them grow wheat, grapes and onions.
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He said Afghans put opium leaves on the gums of newborns when they cry. "That is not acceptable," Murphy said.
While the men and women of the U.S. military are in a dangerous spot, Murphy said progress is being made in winning their hearts and minds of Afghans.
"The Afghan people are appreciative of our sacrifice, and there's an under-told story here," he said. "Before we arrived, there were 1 million boys in schools. Girls were precluded from getting an education by Taliban law. Now that we've have soldiers and Marines there for the past several years, over 6 million are enrolled in schools, 32 percent of them are girls."
U.S., NATO and Afghan troops are working to protect voting sites around the country so Afghans can take part in the country's second-ever direct presidential election Aug. 20.
Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt the elections, and attacks are on the rise around Afghanistan, where roadside bombs are now the cause of the majority of U.S. and NATO deaths.
"The key is for us to empower the Afghan army and police to stand up for themselves," Murphy said. "And we've made great strides." He said the Afghan army has 92,000 troops, a level the U.S. would like to see increased to 130,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Gary Weckselblatt can be reached at 215-345-3169 or gweckselblatt@phillyBurbs.com.
Ellie
By: GARY WECKSELBLATT
The Intelligencer
He returned from a trip where he met with American military personnel and Afghan leaders.
After spending several days in the "most dangerous place in the world," Congressman Patrick Murphy returned home Tuesday from Afghanistan and Iraq where he "thanked soldiers and got an assessment from our military leaders."
Murphy, D-8, led a congressional delegation into the Taliban strongholds as a revamped war plan for Afghanistan is taking hold and violence has escalated.
"I spoke to our young men and women, our true heroes, and thanked them," he said, "and they're thanking me when I haven't done anything. They're the ones working in 120-degree heat, having to worry about our next roadside bomb going off."
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 Tuesday showed.
Three U.S. Marines and a Polish soldier died in the latest attacks, setting August on course to surpass the record 75 deaths U.S. and NATO troops suffered from all causes in July. Forty-four Americans died last month.
"We're going to parts of Afghanistan where the Taliban and Al-Qaeda are strongest to root them out," Murphy said.
U.S. commanders have long predicted that 2009 would be the deadliest year of the war, after President Barack Obama ordered an additional 21,000 troops into Afghanistan to try to quell the rising Taliban insurgency. A record 62,000 U.S. troops are now in Afghanistan.
Murphy, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said his "intense schedule" included talks with leaders concerning the country's poppy and opium trade. He said the U.S. is hoping to bring economic stability to the area by helping them grow wheat, grapes and onions.
Advertisement
He said Afghans put opium leaves on the gums of newborns when they cry. "That is not acceptable," Murphy said.
While the men and women of the U.S. military are in a dangerous spot, Murphy said progress is being made in winning their hearts and minds of Afghans.
"The Afghan people are appreciative of our sacrifice, and there's an under-told story here," he said. "Before we arrived, there were 1 million boys in schools. Girls were precluded from getting an education by Taliban law. Now that we've have soldiers and Marines there for the past several years, over 6 million are enrolled in schools, 32 percent of them are girls."
U.S., NATO and Afghan troops are working to protect voting sites around the country so Afghans can take part in the country's second-ever direct presidential election Aug. 20.
Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt the elections, and attacks are on the rise around Afghanistan, where roadside bombs are now the cause of the majority of U.S. and NATO deaths.
"The key is for us to empower the Afghan army and police to stand up for themselves," Murphy said. "And we've made great strides." He said the Afghan army has 92,000 troops, a level the U.S. would like to see increased to 130,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Gary Weckselblatt can be reached at 215-345-3169 or gweckselblatt@phillyBurbs.com.
Ellie