DOD: US military casualties in Afghanistan as of July 27, 2012

With Syria in turmoil, the election campaign in full swing and the Olympics underway, twelve more US soldiers died in Afghanistan this week. Two more soldier were killed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 86 US soldiers joined the list of wounded warriors.
News on the US economy continued to be disappointing with the Commerce Department reporting that the economy had slowed to a growth of 1.5%, while consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level in 2012. Consumer spending accounts for 70% of economic activity. Full Story @allvoices.com

DOD US Military Casualties in Afghanistan as of 25 May 2012

 Another six U.S. soldiers laid down their lives in Afghanistan this week, while 74 others were wounded in action.  Overal 137 young Americans have been killed in Afghanistan this year and another 796 wounded. 

 Last weekend's NATO summit, which primarily dealt with an exit strategy from Afghanistan, concluded that NATO troops would be out of Afghanistan by 2014 and that Afghan Security Forces would take the lead for operations against the Taliban by the middle of next year.  "The war in Afghanistan, as we know it, as we know it, is over."  Those were the words of President Obama at the conclusion of last week's NATO summit. 

The summit also dealt with the funding of Afghan Forces, which is expected to cost $4.2 Billion annually, with a NATO commitment for the next decade.  France's new President was steadfast that French soldier will leave Afghanistan by the end of this year.  Australia will depart a year earlier than anticipated, while Canada has announced that no Canadian troops would remain in Afghanistan, including a training role, beyond March 2013. 

Yes, the politicians have declared the war over and can't get to the exit fast enough.  Politicians and senior NATO commanders are reassuring the public that the Afghan National Army, expected to be at a strength of 352,000 by 2014 will be able to handle the task.  The rank and file is not so confident.  The ANA has high absenteeism, rampant drug use and of course is being infiltrated by the insurgents. 

At this stage it is not known how many NATO countries will remain in Afghanistan post 2014.  What is clear though, is that Afghanistan will require the support of NATO if it is to succeed, both in funding of its large security force and military support in the form of air support and drones. 

There is a "Strategic Partnership Agreement", but little detail has been released of its contents.

It would appear that gone is the concept, which based any withdrawal on the conditions on the ground.  The preparations are full speed ahead to facilitate the NATO withdrawal. Since Pakistan is key in success, there is little going well in the relations between Pakistan and the U.S. and NATO. 

Yes, the war in Afghanistan, as we know it, is over.  What has not been explained is what that means.  Suffice to say that U.S. and NATO soldiers are still dieing.  Lest We Forget.

Roll of Casualties

Below are this week’s updated DoD casualty figures:

Op Enduring Freedom                  Total Deaths       KIA   Non Hostile              WIA

Afghanistan Only                                   1857               1540        317                     15024
Other Locations                                        113                   12        101
 DoD Civ Casualties                                     3                     1            2
Worldwide Total                                     1973               1553        420                    16024

Accumulated 2012 Casualties:

KIA            Non Combat Deaths             WIA

  88                            49                               796

DoD U.S. Military Casualties In Afghanistan as of 6 Apr 2012

Another nine Americans paid the ultimate price this week.  Seven were killed in action, while three others died of other causes and 45 were wounded.  While the main stream media is concentrated on the 2012 election campaign, Afghanistan after some attention after the Qoran burnings and the killing of 17 civilians by SSG Bales, Afghanistan has once again dropped off the radar.

Yesterday was also the 20th Anniversary of the Siege of Sarajevo, which got little attention by the US media, even though 11,500 people lost their lives.  The media kept busy with the perceived "War on Women" by the Republican party, Obama's comments about the unelected Supreme Court, with an interlude of the fighter crash at Virginia Beach into an apartment complex.  While the total number of casualties is not known, it appears that only seven people were injured and three families, who may be on vacation have not been accounted for, a miracle, in view of what could have been.

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This week, Mitt Romney picked up another 86 delegates after his primary wins in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia.  Although Romney now has more than half of the 1144 delegates required, there is no sign of either Newt Gingrich or his main contender Rick Santorum withdrawing from the race.  Mitt Romney is now concentrating his efforts on President Obama, while he will still have to spend funds to ensure further victories over Santorum.  He has managed to close the gap in Pennsylvania, Santorum's home state.  A loss by Santorum would be a devastating blow.

President Obama has also concentrated his efforts on the presumptive nominee.  Needless to say this is what the main stream media is concentrating on. 
Regardless of the election campaign, there is still a war going on in Afghanistan.  Soldiers and civilians are still dying and even though it is not reported in the main stream media, men and women are still facing acts of violence on a daily basis. 
List of Casualties i.casualties.org

Below are this week’s updated DoD casualty figures:
Op Enduring Freedom                  Total Deaths       KIA   Non Hostile              WIA
Afghanistan Only                                   1805               1499         306                  15560
Other Locations                                        111                  13            98
DoD Civ Casualties                                      3                    1             2
Worldwide Total                                     1919                1513        406                   15560
Accumulated 2012 Casualties:
KIA            Non Combat Deaths             WIA
45                          37                                  382