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Afghanistan Attacks at Record High

By Jess Kilby,  Newser User

Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:06 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Violence in Afghanistan is the worst it’s been since 2001, the US commander of forces in the region announced today. Insurgents staged more than 400 attacks during the past week, compared to less than 50 per week in January 2004, the BBC reports. Gen David Petraeus said allied forces are targeting the militants’ safe havens, which partly explains the spike.

But Petraeus also warned that “there is no question the situation has deteriorated over the course of the past two years in particular,” and said to expect “difficult times ahead." He stressed the need for US forces to be “good partners and good neighbors” and avoid civilian casualties whenever possible, which have been a significant source of tension between the US and Afghanistan governments.

An elderly Afghan man looks on as a U.S. Marine from the 2nd MEB, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines patrols in the town of Deleram in Afghanistan's Farah province Wednesday, June 10, 2009.
An elderly Afghan man looks on as a U.S. Marine from the 2nd MEB, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines patrols in the town of Deleram in Afghanistan's Farah province Wednesday, June 10, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
Gen. David Petraeus testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 2, 2009, before the House Armed Services Committee hearing on new strategy for Afghanistan, Pakistan.
Gen. David Petraeus testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 2, 2009, before the House Armed Services Committee hearing on new strategy for Afghanistan, Pakistan.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
US Marines watch as a helicopter takes off from the landing zone at forward operating base Golestan in Afghanistan's Farah province Thursday, June 11, 2009.
US Marines watch as a helicopter takes off from the landing zone at forward operating base Golestan in Afghanistan's Farah province Thursday, June 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
emptycalm
Jun 12, 2009 5:50 AM CDT
It's sad they have to be reminded not to target civilians.
kokuaguy
Jun 12, 2009 4:45 AM CDT
According to what I heard on NPR today, the Taliban and al Qaeda have planned a "surge" as a response to Obama's sending 20,000 additional troops.
wwwonderer
Jun 12, 2009 3:56 AM CDT
I haven't read the original story, but above it doesn't say they are TARGETING civilians, it says they must AVOID civilian casualties. Either way it is a shame anyone needs to be reminded to not turn the innocent into the belligerent.@Reader644 - as I understand it, amd I could b wrong, Russia was brought down in Afghanistan because of US involvement ALONG with the Arms/Space race with the USA. They simply went broke trying to compete with America. Not that they got severely outmatched or outgunned by the native Afghani fighters.

 
Afghanistan • insurgents • David Petraeus • civilian casualties • violence • Afghanistan war • attacks

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