KB9YCO
04-24-2008, 04:16 PM
I'm not one to call for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, our administration created a majority of that mess and as a country we have a duty to leave it in some kind of stable condition (if possible). But, I really have to wonder what the price of the 'distraction' of the war in Iraq has cost on the war in Afghanistan (that we don't seem to hear about much these days, but is still going on.) Seems to me that we (the collective we as we are represented by our government, unfortunately sometimes) have dropped the ball and lost focus on what was really the 'central front' on the war on terror before others decided to follow their various agendas. Most people, and most politicians from both parties, were united on 'striking back' against the Taliban in Afghanistan, seems like the problems started with Iraq. I see that we've spent 4 billion in Afghanistan in the last 3 years, but it doesn't seem like most of the focus has been on that 'front' so much as it's been on Iraq. So, is this the price of losing focus on what was really related to 9-11? Is it a separate issue?
Insurgent violence in Afghanistan could reach record levels this year as militants increasingly target police and development projects, a top U.S. general said Thursday.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Schloesser, who commands U.S. forces in the country, said violence is increasing as insurgents pour into Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan.
Violence "may well reach a higher level than it did in 2007," the bloodiest since the ouster of the Taliban regime in 2001, Schloesser said.
More than 8,000 people, mostly militants, were killed in insurgency-related violence last year, according to the United Nations.
Militants afraid to attack coalition forces are instead directing violence against civilians, police and security forces protecting development projects, he said.
"They are going for what is an easier target," said Schloesser, who heads the 101st Airborne Division. He took up his command in Afghanistan on April 10.
More than 900 policemen were killed last year. More vulnerable than the better-trained and equipped national army, police have made up the majority of at least 159 security forces killed this year — with at least 72 police officers killed in April alone, according to an Associated Press tally.
The high death toll comes despite some $4 billion spent by the United States to train and equip police in the last three years. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080424/ap_on_re_as/afghan_insurgency&printer=1;_ylt=AghgSM7S7iQAFq5OZ3BT4Ln9xg8F)
Insurgent violence in Afghanistan could reach record levels this year as militants increasingly target police and development projects, a top U.S. general said Thursday.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Schloesser, who commands U.S. forces in the country, said violence is increasing as insurgents pour into Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan.
Violence "may well reach a higher level than it did in 2007," the bloodiest since the ouster of the Taliban regime in 2001, Schloesser said.
More than 8,000 people, mostly militants, were killed in insurgency-related violence last year, according to the United Nations.
Militants afraid to attack coalition forces are instead directing violence against civilians, police and security forces protecting development projects, he said.
"They are going for what is an easier target," said Schloesser, who heads the 101st Airborne Division. He took up his command in Afghanistan on April 10.
More than 900 policemen were killed last year. More vulnerable than the better-trained and equipped national army, police have made up the majority of at least 159 security forces killed this year — with at least 72 police officers killed in April alone, according to an Associated Press tally.
The high death toll comes despite some $4 billion spent by the United States to train and equip police in the last three years. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080424/ap_on_re_as/afghan_insurgency&printer=1;_ylt=AghgSM7S7iQAFq5OZ3BT4Ln9xg8F)