Afghanistan

Two US soldiers killed, new stategy sought

Article published on the 2009-08-31 Latest update 2009-09-01 07:06 TU

A German soldier with Isaf in an armoured personnel carrier in Afghanistan, 26 August, 2009.
(Photo:Reuters/Ruben Sprich)

Commander of the Western Isaf troops under Nato in Afghanistan General Stanley McChystal has sent a review of the nearly eight-year-long war in the country to his superiors. He commented that they could succeed in quelling the Taliban, but described the situation as serious.

Two US soldiers were killed in separate attacks by bombs on Monday in southern Afghanistan, the day the general in charge of the Nato-led troops there sent a report, reviewing military operations there.

"The situation is serious, but success is achievable demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort," commented General Stanley McChyrstal in his two-month review on ground.

The independent website icasulaties.org, which tracks the number of military lossses, says that 302 foreign troops have died in Afghanistan so far this year. 177 of them are US soldiers. That's already more in the first eight months of this year than the 294 foreign troops who fell in Afghanistan in 2008.

There are more than 100,000 Nato-affiliated soldiers in Afghanistan alongside a separate US-led coalition backing the Afghan security forces fighting the Taliban.

The elections last week in Afghanistan were marked by a poor turnout and claims of fraud. The Taliban had warned people against going out to vote and had attacked some of those who did.