Afghanistan more dangerous than Iraq

[ECH1969]

Despite purported military success in Afghanistan, the U.S. Institute of Peace says the country in 2005 was more dangerous for American troops per capita than Iraq.

The group also said in a new report that NATO’s imminent takeover of operations in southern Afghanistan could derail counter-insurgency operations.

"Although NATO has approved more ’robust’ rules of engagement for its troops in its expanded mission, the organization still lacks the capacity and the will to aggressively root out insurgent forces," USIP stated. "Moreover, NATO foreign ministers have resisted any major role in counter-insurgency activities, insisting instead on a peacekeeping posture focused on ’stabilization and security’ assistance for the Afghan government."

According to USIP, in the spring of 2005 U.S. troop casualties -- both injured and killed -- reached 1.6 per 1,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, compared with a casualty rate of 0.9 per 1,000 in Iraq.

http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=135343

[Ignacio Upton]

1. Maybe if Bush hadn't taken us on our Iraq DIVERSION

Afghanistan would be in much better shape today, and the warlords and Taliban wouldn't be regaining clout!:grr:

[ixion]

2. afgha-who? nevermind that. it's on to Iran.

:sarcasm: :nuke: :-(

[High Plains]

3. The US Institute of Peace sounds pretty militaristic.

Oh.

http://www.usip.org/


The United States Institute of Peace is an independent nonpartisan national institution established and funded by Congress. Our mission is to help prevent, manage, and resolve international conflicts by empowering others with knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as by our direct involvement in peacebuilding efforts around the world.


Hmmm, peacebuilding through military means, I guess.

[ECH1969]

4. I don't see how Afghanistan is going to be fixed otherwise

If the US left tomorrow the Taliban would take about half of Afghanistan over the next year and from there you probably would would see a very very long war inside Afghanistan. The Taliban aren't going to lay down their arms so unless they take over again, which could happen, but would take a very long time even if we left tomorrow there is no non-military solution to the problem.

[fshrink]

5. US more dangerous than all the ME combined.