2009 officially bloodiest year in Afghanistan

Reuters reports that more foreign troops in Afghanistan have been killed this year than ever before. Also, a new poll revealed a majority of Americans believe the war in Afghanistan is not worth fighting.

The short albeit telling Reuters report marks a turning point in the war because there are still four months left in 2009 and the war in the view of many is not going well for the U.S. under the leadership of the Obama administration according to national polling. New York Times columnist Peter Baker in an article published August 22 poses the question, "Could Afghanistan be Obama's Vietnam?" The New York Times reported on August 25 that, "American forces, who make up the largest contingent of the NATO force in Afghanistan, have also suffered the largest share of deaths, with 172 killed this year, surpassing the previous high of 155 killed in 2008. A total of 802 American troops have died since the war began. British forces have suffered the second highest number of deaths, with 206 killed since 2001." "Four U.S. servicemen with the NATO-led force were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, the alliance said, making 2009 the deadliest year for foreign troops since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001," according to Motevalli . The deaths bring the number of foreign forces killed in 2009 to 295, according to website icasualties.org, which compiles official data. The previous deadliest year was 2008 when 294 foreign troops died. US combat deaths in Afghanistan have risen since Barack Obama, the US president, ordered a troop build-up to confront a resurgent Taliban, with a record 44 US soldiers killed in July. Meanwhile, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll indicate a majority of Americans believe the war in Afghanistan is not worth fighting, and most want fewer American soldiers to be sent there.