womenvets

It has been a deadly month in the Afghanistan war, with the death toll at 106 of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan this year - at least seven U.S. soldiers killed, and one sold to a militant clan as hostage in the last few days - and the number of British solders to die overtook the toll in Iraq - a record pace.
Last year 151 U.S. troops died in the country.
The Associated Press reported that U.S. casualties come on the heels of eight British deaths in Helmand during a 24-hour period that ended Friday
“My heart goes out to the families of those British soldiers,” President Barack Obama said. “Great Britain has played an extraordinary role in this coalition, understanding that we cannot allow either Afghanistan or Pakistan to be a safe haven for al-Qaeda, those who with impunity blow up train stations in London or buildings in New York.”
More than 21,000 additional U.S. soldiers – men and women, were sent in Afghanistan this year to fight the Taliban insurgency.  Obama expects the total number of U.S. forces there to reach 68,000 by year’s end – double the number of troops in Afghanistan in 2008 but still half as many as are now in Iraq.
The toll will continue to climb, on both sides. U.S. officials have reported the deaths of high-ranking terrorists.
An immediate goal, the military says, is to clear away insurgents before the nation’s Aug. 20 presidential election. Southern Afghanistan is a Taliban stronghold but also a region where Afghan President Hamid Karzai is seeking votes from fellow Pashtun tribesmen. Without such a large Marine assault, the Afghan government would likely not be able to set up voting booths to which citizens could safely travel.
The U.S. will have an opportunity to help develop alternate livelihoods for farmers whose opium poppy crops bankroll the Taliban. Obama told the AP he wants to help ensure that Afghans “are benefiting from development and improved agricultural systems and education systems and health care systems.” He also said Washington and its allies must build up the Afghan national army and police and help Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan secure their common border. “The benchmarks of success that we’ve laid out are: Are we building an Afghan national army and police structure that can secure itself without the assistance of NATO forces or U.S. forces? Is Pakistan able to maintain its borders so that al-Qaida or affiliates aren’t operating there?” Obama said.
The problem is the Taliban, insurgents, militias, fractions, are made of people from Pakistan and Afghanistan, and knowing who is against who is sure to be a dilemma for U.S. forces.
Mainstream media has said the “terrorists” are suspiciously quiet, and attribute that to being in defeat. Nobody has heard from Osama bin Laden for months, and he is still Public Enemy No. 1.
I just want all our troops back from all Middle Eastern conflicts. It is ludicrous to think our attention is going to change the religious-based war that has been raging for centuries.  

VA to get energy efficient
In more positive news, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki announced his department is targeting nearly one-quarter of its $1.4 billion in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to investments in clean energy generation and energy conservation. 
The department reportedly will direct more than $68 million to renewable sources, including solar, wind and geothermal energy and has dedicated nearly $238 million toward retrofitting existing buildings to use energy and water more efficiently. 

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D996O6HO0&show_article=1&catnum=0 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-07-12-afghanistan_N.htm?csp=YahooModule_News

Trackback URI | Comments RSS