U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Kaman helps secure an area along the Pech River during a meeting between key leaders in the Kunar province of Afghanistan on Feb. 4, 2007. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss local development projects that are a combined effort of the Coalition led Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team and local contractors. Kaman is attached to the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment, Connecticut National Guard. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Gipe, U.S. Army. (Released)Battlefield Losses Plummet -- Strategy Page
December 9, 2008: Last month, eleven U.S. military personnel died in combat (one in Afghanistan and ten in Iraq.) This is the lowest monthly deaths since before the Iraq invasion. It's the lowest death rate for Afghanistan since July 2002 (when there were no deaths.) For 2008, the monthly death toll (from combat) has averaged about 24. Since 2001, about a thousand foreign troops have died in Afghanistan, about a third of them from non-combat causes (usually vehicle accidents).
The sharp drop in NATO and U.S. combat deaths in Afghanistan is attributed to the successful campaign against Taliban leadership. This has been going on for over a year, and has severely disrupted Taliban operations. In addition, Pakistan has been waging a major campaign against the Taliban just across the border, and this has caused some Afghan Taliban to move into Pakistan to help their fellow terrorists avoid getting destroyed. It's also the start of the Winter season, when the less well equipped (in terms of Winter clothing, air transportation and other gear necessary for cold weather operations) Taliban are at a disadvantage. The Taliban aren't out as much in the nasty weather, and NATO and U.S. troops can hunt the enemy at less risk to themselves.
Read more ....
U.S. and Coalition casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan are recorded at iCasualties.org
