Roadside bomb kills U.S. Navy SEAL in southern Afghanistan

[News_Editor]

Roadside bomb kills U.S. Navy SEAL in southern Afghanistan

2011-10-03 04:05:39 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- A roadside bomb killed a U.S. Navy SEAL in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, the U.S. Department of Defense and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed on Sunday.

The U.S. Department of Defense said 26-year-old Petty Officer 1st Class Caleb A. Nelson of Omaha, Nebraska was killed when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) while conducting a combat patrol in Zabul province, located in the country's south.

Nelson was a United States Navy SEAL assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit based in Norfolk, Virginia. Other details about Nelson or the patrol he was on were not immediately released.

Also on Sunday, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed 32-year-old First Sergeant Billy J. Siercks of Velda Village, Missouri died on Wednesday as a result of wounds suffered a day earlier in Logar province when insurgent attacked his unit using indirect fire. Siercks died at a hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.

Coalition casualties in Afghanistan have been rising sharply in recent years with a total coalition death toll of 709 in 2010, making it the deadliest year for international troops since the war began in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

There are currently more than 130,000 ISAF troops in Afghanistan, including some 90,000 U.S. troops and more than 9,500 British soldiers. U.S. President Barack Obama previously ordered a drawdown of 10,000 American troops later this year, with another 23,000 U.S. troops to return home next year.

So far this year, at least 468 coalition service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Most troops are American and are killed in the country's south, which is plagued by IED attacks on troops and civilians. The deadliest incident happened in August when a U.S. helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 U.S. troops, seven Afghan troops and an Afghan interpreter.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-03

[up-country_sinclair]

So far this year, at least 468 coalition service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Most troops are American and are killed in the country's south, which is plagued by IED attacks on troops and civilians. The deadliest incident happened in August when a U.S. helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 U.S. troops, seven Afghan troops and an Afghan interpreter.

Maybe it's just my imagination, but it seems like a lot of SEALs have died in the last few months.

RIP

[Steely Dan]

Sadly as with the U.S debt, which increased at an accelerated rate under Obama we have the same sad story with U.S war dead in Afghanistan.

http://icasualties.org/oef/

But where is the outcry in the press?

[geriatrickid]

Sadly as with the U.S debt, which increased at an accelerated rate under Obama we have the same sad story with U.S war dead in Afghanistan.

http://icasualties.org/oef/

But where is the outcry in the press?

Because everytime President Obama suggests reducing the military expenditure in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a block in the House of Reps and Senate that acts to block the effort.

Look at the last stink that arose when Secretary Gates had floated the balloon of reducing troops in Afghanistan.

BTW, it is rather odd for a SEAL to be engaged in a routine patrol. Due to their value, they tend to be used in targeted operations. There may be more to the story than what has been published.

[flying]

Sadly as with the U.S debt, which increased at an accelerated rate under Obama we have the same sad story with U.S war dead in Afghanistan.

Or it could be simple math?

More government spending = more debt

Send more to Afghanistan = more dead

But then that does not help the left vs right vs left vs right ad nauseum

Funny though the problem on both counts could be resolved.

It will be achieved by neither right nor left though.