surge update: 4 US soldiers killed in blast in Afghanistan

[spanone]

KABUL, Afghanistan — Four American soldiers serving with NATO forces in Afghanistan died Monday in an explosion in the country's south, NATO and a defense department official said, bringing home the human cost of the U.S.-led push into Taliban strongholds.

The official said they were hit by an improvised explosive device. He spoke on condition of anonymity because relatives of those killed were still being notified. The latest deaths make a total of 16 NATO service members killed so far this month, and 167 so far this year.

The latest casualties came as the second-ranking U.S. general in Afghanistan said Monday it was too early to tell if the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in neighboring Pakistan will have an impact on the Afghan war effort.

Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, who is in charge of NATO's joint command, said that al-Qaida as a movement was not based on bin Laden's leadership alone, and that the military has been waiting to see how his May 2 death will affect the strength of the terror group and its influence in Afghanistan.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43051027/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/

[LiberalLoner]

1. Four more spouses that will be devastated, four more parents who will be

heartbroken, and children who will never be the same.

I hope we can come home soon.

I trust General Rodriguez on this, but I hope he is able to find a way to bring our troops home soon.

[lib2DaBone]

2. Pakistan is waiting to explode.. we are one false-flag CIA- Op away...

..Please... get our kids out of there NOW!

[w8liftinglady]

3. 127 this year in Afghanistan. 22 This year in Iraq. Tomorrow it will be a non-issue

[eridani]

4. Al Qaida is the only organization that has openings for revenge killers? Really? n/t