AFGHANISTAN: 15 WOUNDED IN VIOLENT KUNAR PROVINCE
Nine U.S. Soldiers Killed by Afghan Militants

Officials say attacks becoming more intense, better co-ordinated after deadliest strike on American troops in the country since 2005

By JASON STRAZIUSO AND GLEN JOHNSON; Monday, July 14, 2008 - Globe & Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/freeheadl...

Associated Press

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN AND SAN DIEGO -- A multipronged militant assault on a small, remote U.S. base close to the Pakistan border killed nine American soldiers and wounded 15 yesterday in the deadliest attack on U.S. forces in Afghanistan in three years, officials said.

The attack on the American troops began around 4:30 a.m. local time and lasted throughout the day. Militants fired machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars from homes and a mosque in the village of Wanat in the mountainous northeastern province of Kunar, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.

The attack was the deadliest for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since June, 2005, when 16 American troops were killed - also in Kunar province - when their helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade.

U.S. officials say militant attacks in Afghanistan are becoming more complex, intense and better co-ordinated than a year ago. U.S. officials are considering drawing down additional forces from Iraq in coming months, in part because of the need for additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan. They have said they need at least three more brigades in Afghanistan - or more than 10,000 troops.

NATO confirmed nine of its soldiers had been killed and 15 wounded. A Western official said the nine dead were Americans, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the troops' nationalities. Four Afghan soldiers were also wounded.

Lieutenant-Colonel Rumi Nielson-Green, the top U.S. military spokeswoman in Afghanistan, said she could not comment because the fighting was ongoing.

More than 2,300 people, mostly militants, have died in insurgency-related violence this year, according to an Associated Press tally of official figures. Attacks in eastern Afghanistan are up 40 per cent this year, compared with last year.

Violence in Iraq is at its lowest level in four years and Iraqi forces are taking on more responsibility, trends that could allow General David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, to recommend to U.S. President George W. Bush in September that he resume a troop withdrawal that is being put on hold this month so Gen. Petraeus has time to assess the overall situation. A top Bush aide, Ed Gillespie, said yesterday that withdrawing more troops from Iraq after that assessment always has "been a possibility."

In San Diego yesterday, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama mourned the death of the nine U.S. soldiers, even as he said John McCain's numerous visits to the region don't leave the Republican better equipped to deal with its volatility as president. Mr. Obama was preparing to embark on only his second visit to Iraq and his first visit to Afghanistan.

"The main thing I want to communicate is that our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these extraordinary heroes," Mr. Obama said. "And we need to make sure that we're providing them with every bit of support that we can."

The Illinois senator has called for redeploying U.S. forces from Iraq to Afghanistan.