Reasons for the Surge

Many of us heard the President, Mr. 3000, talk about how unacceptable the surge in violence in Iraq was. Therefore, in order to allow their government to well, govern, we were going to send additional forces in the area.

Critics and supporters alike talk about the amount of sectarian violence that engulfs the majority of Iraq.

Afghanistan, is also experiencing a surge in violence.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Tuesday he wants to extend the combat tours of 1,200 soldiers amid rising violence, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he was "strongly inclined" to recommend a troop increase to President Bush if commanders believe it is needed.

The number of insurgent attacks is up by 300 percent since September.

Eikenberry told reporters he has recommended to the Pentagon that 1,200 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division — which is about halfway through a scheduled four-month tour in eastern Afghanistan — be ordered to stay through the end of the year.

That battalion is already scheduled to deploy to Iraq later this year, an illustration of how stretched U.S. forces are by the two wars.

Afghanistan is our forgotten war, yet the reasons for wanting to send more troops in harms way are strikingly similar to the quagmire that is our own Iraqi War.

Surely this will result in more US Forces going to Afghanistan. To not send more troops, flies in the face of the President's rationale for sending more troops to Iraq.

Rock

Hard place

Re-read that last comment on the 10th Mountain Division unit. Their tour in Afghanistan will be extended by more than four months AND they will deploy to Iraq later this year.

This is going to get a lot worse before it starts to get any better...