'/> Uncommon Hours: 2,000th U.S. soldier dies in Afghanistan
Blogging on culture, politics, and the environment since 2008.

Friday, June 15, 2012

2,000th U.S. soldier dies in Afghanistan

Yet another grim landmark has been reached this week, as the 2,000th U.S. soldier died in Afghanistan. Over 3,000 NATO troops have died during this decade-long war, and countless civilians have been killed by both enemy fighters and American and NATO attacks.

In Iraq, where some 3-4,000 American troops are still stationed, nearly 4,500 troops died, while modest estimates put Iraqi civilian deaths at well over 100,000.

The U.S. has committed to remain in Afghanistan for another ten years following the official NATO withdrawal, scheduled for 2014.