Because we do not hear. KIA in Afghanistan this week.
Because it's on page 5 or page 17. Because it's rarely on the first News Page of our browsers. Because it's often forgotten. Because now over 2000 U.S. troops have died in Afghanistan. Because it seems it's without end, war without end. Because we no longer know how to wrestle with it. Because our politicians will never admit to failure. Because I know it weighs heavy on our hearts here at DU.
Another 12 U.S. soldiers died in Afghanistan during the past week and 84 were wounded in action. While only six were killed in action and six were due to other causes, one of the alarming trends is the killing of NATO troops at the hands of Afghan Security Forces. It was alarming enough for Gen. Martin Dempsey, cahirman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to travel to Afghanistan to look into the issue himself.
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)are still the favorite tools of the insurgents. There seems to be an unlimited supply of suicide bombers as well.
Whilegenerals and politicians keep trumpeting that the training of Afghan Security Forces is proceeding well, doubt has been raised by Afghan experts on the viability of these forces. Most recently the issue was raised by former Canadian Captain Robert Semrau, who has broken his silence in his book "The Taliban Don't Wave." Semrau, who was charged with murder for mercy killing a Taliban insurgent but convicted of the lesser charge of "Disgraceful Conduct," writes about the difficulty of training Afghan Forces.
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http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12839938-dod-military-casualties-in-afghanistan-as-of-aug-24-2012
And just because I'm posting about troops killed, doesn't mean that I've forgotten those Afghan civilians who died, caught in this vicious, pointless conflict.
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