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Month Ties for Deadliest in Afghan War

By AMIR SHAH
,
AP
posted: 10 HOURS 41 MINUTES AGO
comments: 924
filed under: World News
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KABUL (Aug. 27) - A U.S. service member died Thursday in a militant attack involving a roadside bomb and gunfire, a death that pushed August into a tie with July as the deadliest months of the eight-year war.
The death brings to 44 the number of U.S. troops who have died in Afghanistan this month. But with four days left in the month, August is likely to set a new record.
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U.S. troops in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 20, 2009.
Kate Brooks, Getty Images

U.S. troops stand guard in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 20.

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More than 60,000 U.S. troops are now in the country — a record number — to combat rising insurgent violence. The number of roadside bombs deployed by militants across the country has skyrocketed, and U.S. forces have moved into new and deadlier areas of the country this summer, in part to help secure the country's Aug. 20 presidential election.
Violence is on the rise in Afghanistan even as it falls in Iraq, where nearly twice as many U.S. troops are still based. Five U.S. troops have died in Iraq this month, three fewer than in July.
A statement from the NATO-led force in Kabul said the U.S. service member died in southern Afghanistan when the troop's patrol responded to the bombing and gunfire attack. No other details were released. Thousands of new American troops are operating for the first time in Helmand and Kandahar, two of the country's most dangerous provinces.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Afghan forces attacked a clinic in eastern Afghanistan after a wounded Taliban commander sought treatment, and a U.S. helicopter gunship fired on the medical center after militants put up resistance.
Reports of the militant death toll from Wednesday's firefight varied widely. The spokesman of the governor of Paktika province said 12 militants died, while police said two were killed. The U.S. military did not report any deaths. It wasn't clear why the tolls differed.
The fighting began after a wounded Taliban commander sought treatment at a clinic in the Sar Hawza district of Paktika. As U.S. said Afghan forces moved toward the center, militants began firing from inside.
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Photos From Afghanistan
A building in Kandahar, Afghanistan, lies in ruin Wednesday, a day after several vehicle bombs were set off simultaneously, killing at least 41 people.
AP
AP
Hamidullah Zhwak, the governor's spokesman, said the Taliban commander was wounded Aug. 20, the day of the country's presidential election.
Militants brought him and three other wounded Taliban to the clinic at noon Wednesday. U.S. and Afghan forces were tipped off to their presence and soon arrived at the scene, he said.
Insurgent snipers fired from a tower near the clinic, and troops called in an airstrike, Zhwak said. Fighting between some 20 militants and Afghan and U.S. forces lasted about five hours, and 12 Taliban were killed in the clash, he said.
"After ensuring the clinic was cleared of civilians, an AH-64 Apache helicopter fired rounds at the building ending the direct threat and injuring the targeted insurgent in the building," a U.S. military statement said.
Seven insurgents — including the wounded commander — had been detained, the U.S. statement said.
Gen. Dawlat Khan, the provincial police chief, said two militants died in the encounter.
The Taliban have gained control of large segments of Afghanistan's south and east over the past few years, prompting the U.S. to send an additional 21,000 troops to the country this year.
The latest clash comes as the war-torn country awaits results from last week's election. The lengthy vote count, coupled with ongoing accusations of fraud, threatens to undermine hopes that Afghans can put together a united front against the insurgency.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-08-27 06:00:35
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TheSeventhLegend

06:31 PMAug 27 2009

Obama has been a BIG failure at president. Where are the 3 million jobs he said he was going to save? Last I checked unemployment continues to rise well above the maximum 8% HE predicted. Have any of you felt any positive from the nearly trillion dollar stimulus? Neither have I. Last I checked the banks got propped up and debts cleared at taxpayers expense so they can go on with business as usual..... which we ALL know what that is. Last I checked the government now owns major parts of our economy. Last I checked the Afghan war was getting WORSE under Obama's leadership. Last I checked Obama was trying to cram an unwanted Government Healthcare program down our throats at an expense we CAN'T afford. Last I checked the budget deficit has SWELLED to unprecidented numbers due to Obama's fiscal irresponsibility. Last I check Obama's favorbility ratings were DROPPING!!!

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WBEARL

06:26 PMAug 27 2009

I'm not sure where Wendnesday 2002 got their facts, but they are seriously tainted with Democratic Propaganda. If Wendnesday 2002 knew anything about FEMA and the US Constitution, they would know that Bush couldn't raise a finger till asked to by the Governor of Louisiana. Both the Governor and the mayor of New Orleans wanted to keep it in house and waited too long before asking for assistance. Blaming Bush for others adultery is like blaming Obama for the people around him with tax problems. Not to mention after Clinton, the Democrats shouldn't bring up Adultery in any one's current life time. The trashing of the current economy started during Clinton's reign, continued during Bush's reign and crashed big time during Obama's. The Iraq War was the end result of 8 years of Clinton and the UN playing world games with Iraq about WMD. Both Clinton and the UN thought there were WMD in Iraq, Bush was the only one with enough guts to actually do something but argue with them. The fact that ...

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Thresandsean

06:24 PMAug 27 2009

BrunoNolan 06:18 PMAug 27 2009 Thresandsean -- Did you know that the words "UNDER GOD" were not added to the Pledge of Allegience until the 1950's?.............Yes, did you know that millions have fled many of the worlds Socialist and Communist states to prosper here under Capitlaism? Did you also realize that system that has offered opportunity to all of us is being dismantled now? I have had a lifetime to see how good we HAD it compared to all these other things. Once one has tasted steak who would want soy burger? I know you vegies out there are like, "I would", just a metaphor.

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Thresandsean

06:20 PMAug 27 2009

Usapatriot401 .<<< SOCIALISM ISN'T A POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, ITS A SOCIO-ECONOMIC IDEOLOGY..... HENCE THE REASON ITS BEEN WORKING FOR DECADES IN HOLLAND, GERMANY, SPAIN, FRANCE, SWEDEN, DENMARK, NORWAY AND OUR FRIENDS TO THE NORTH.........CANADA!.................Boy you sure are intelligent. Can you also explain why their economies have not only lagged behind the U.S. Capitalistic economy. As we rise they follow, as we fall they follow. Of course all that is changing now thatnks to you libs.

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TheSeventhLegend

06:20 PMAug 27 2009

Afghanistan is Obama's war..... I mean, his "overseas contingency effort" (his own words). He doesn't even acknowledge it's a war, so whay are we there? God bless our troops for protecting us from these radical extremists and protecting foreign innocent lives. But why do we not see a troop Body Count meter on TV like we did when it was Bush's war in Irag? Because the media is proping up Obama and trying to protect him and his failures. Obama said we were going to pull out of Irag and Afghanistan. Instead he increased the troops. And if this is needed to win over there then so be it...... but you libs can't have it both ways. Obama is responsible for the ongoing deaths AND cost of the war.

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BrunoNolan

06:18 PMAug 27 2009

Thresandsean -- Did you know that the words "UNDER GOD" were not added to the Pledge of Allegience until the 1950's?

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Thresandsean

06:16 PMAug 27 2009

Usapatriot401 06:10 PMAug 27 2009 Thresandsean 05:43 PMAug 27 2009 Ask the Canadians and Brits if they wish they could take their decision to go Socialist medicine back.<<< FUNNY THING IS BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN RULED BY THE MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVES FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS........ WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?............I have been listening to them warn us not to go down the path of Socialized medicine, where have you been!

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Thresandsean

06:15 PMAug 27 2009

Wendnesday 2002 06:03 PMAug 27 2009 Hmmm, let's look at the Bush/Cheney/Republican legacy:--two wars--AIG--ecomony in the toilet--US image overseas in the toilet--trashing of the constitution (spying, torture)--adultery (Sanford, Ensign)--incompetence (Katrina)--thievery (DeLay, Abramoff)--destruction of middle class (tax cuts for rich)--murder (Blackwater)--terror (raising of terror alert before election)--misuse of tax dollars (Sanford using tax dollars to see his mistress)-- jobs losses (tax breaks for companies who ship American jobs overseas)Could go on and on..........Half truths.....Sanford and the like should lose their jobs and be prosecuted. If I compared apples to apples though the liberals wouldnt stand a chance. The difference is I would remove Sanford for his actions, where you would defend any liberal regardless of their actions.

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Usapatriot401

06:13 PMAug 27 2009

Thresandsean 05:27 PMAug 27 2009 Patriot.... Your name says a lot about what kind of person you hope to portray. I dont know you so I can not say why you are O.K. with turning our nation into a gov. controlled socialist state. I can say that if you look at east Germany vs West Germany before the wall went down, and N. Korea and S. Korea current day, you might understand the difference between Socialism, its cousin communism and the wonderful opportunity Capitalism offers. Why not perfect it has led the worlds economies my entire life and even in down times like now, STILL DOES.<<< SOCIALISM ISN'T A POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, ITS A SOCIO-ECONOMIC IDEOLOGY..... HENCE THE REASON ITS BEEN WORKING FOR DECADES IN HOLLAND, GERMANY, SPAIN, FRANCE, SWEDEN, DENMARK, NORWAY AND OUR FRIENDS TO THE NORTH.........CANADA!

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Thresandsean

06:11 PMAug 27 2009

BrunoNolan 06:03 PMAug 27 2009 Thresandsean -- Do you know what the Founding Fathers believed? Have you ever read Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason"? Which Founding Father described himself, in his Autobiography as "a thorough Deist"?.............No, I wouldnt be being honest if I claimed to have read that. I am however a student of history and our constitution and understand that our founding fathers as a whole were mostly Christians and many were Pastors. I also understand that even as a Capitalist nation we could improve; however, one should not dismantle the greatest economy EVER known to human kind. Tweak it and refine it to be better. I will read it though. I may or may not agree but I like to study history, so should be interesting, thanks for the suggestion.

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A U.S. service member dies in a militant attack in Afghanistan, becoming the 44th American to perish this month in the war -- and pushing August into a tie with July as the deadliest month. With four days still to go, August is likely to set a record