US deaths double in Afghanistan as troops pour in

KABUL – The number of United States troops killed in Afghanistan has roughly doubled in the first three months of 2010 compared to the same period last year as Washington has added tens of thousands of additional soldiers to reverse the Taliban’s momentum.

Those deaths have been accompanied by a dramatic spike in the number of wounded, with injuries more than tripling in the first two months of the year.US officials have warned that casualties are likely to rise even further as the Pentagon completes its deployment of 30 000 additional troops to Afghanistan and sets its sights on the Taliban’s home base of Kandahar province, where a major operation is expected in the coming months.In total, 57 US troops were killed here during the first two months of 2010 compared with 28 in January and February of last year, an increase of more than 100 percent, according to Pentagon figures compiled by The Associated Press. At least 20 American service members have been killed so far in March.Britain, which has the second largest contingent, has lost at least 33 troops since January 1. – Nampa-AP