Jul 20 2009
Chaos And Confusion – Death Toll Rises
Forty-six (46) international troops have been killed in Afghanistan so far in July marking July as being the deadliest month on record in Afghanistan for international forces led by the U.S. Twenty-four (24) of these forty-six troops were Americans. According to the statistics gathered by the Associated Press (AP), this number matches the highest full month total of the eight year war that has been raging in the area – We are now eleven (11) days away from the end month – how many lives will be lost in these last eleven days of July?
The more U.S. intensification of the attacks against the Taliban, the more intense the Taliban attacks become with roadside bombings as well as suicide bombings. There are approximately 4,000 (of nearly 57,000 troops currently in Afghanistan) U.S. marines operating the largest offensive since 2001 in an attempt to break the stronghold of the Taliban in the Helmand Province while the Afghan government has supplied only about 650 soldiers and police to join the ongoing U.S. offensive.
President Obama has ordered an additional 21,000 troops to Afghanistan this year to curb the Taliban, whose threat includes nuclear-armed Pakistan and is hoping that a different situation will arise after the presidential elections in Afghanistan slated for August 20th which would allow for the pronouncement of an exit strategy with the Afghan government taking more responsibility for the country’s security.
Meanwhile, July is also experiencing some of the worst violence in Iraq since U.S. combat troops pulled back from urban areas at the end of June and the government in Iraq is setting up to further restrict the movement and activities of U.S. forces, which could potentially place troops in more danger. The new measures according to The Washington Post are “a reflection of the Iraqi leaders to show their citizens that they are now unequivocally in charge and their dependence on the U.S. military is minimal and waning.”
Americans have been caught off guard with these new restrictions on their activities and Maj. General Daniel P. Bolger suggests that “maybe something was lost in translation” while negotiating the terms of the U.S-Iraqi security agreement. You can read more about this disturbing turn of events at:
Along with these events in the Middle East comes Israel’s refusal to halt the housing project they have planned for the east bank which threatens the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel. This refusal is in stark contrast to the request made by the U.S. to halt settlement building which is, thereby, straining relationships between Israel and the Obama Administration.
Can the U.S. truly be effective in the Middle East? It would seem as though these countries thrive of chaos of any nature. Yet, can we afford not to be involved due to the nature of nuclear armament? Just what does the future hold for the Middle East and what will be their view of the United States when all is said and done? What has really been achieved with our involvement in these areas besides a growing abhorrence to not only our country but the Christian religion as well with the recent bombings of “Christian” churches in Baghdad? At what point do you step back and re-evaluate the mission?
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