Nine American Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan Attack Named

Violence is on the rise in Afghanistan, and it leaves many people questioning the operation, and wondering whether the Taliban-led insurgency is gaining momentum seven years after the fundamentalist Islamic regime was ousted by a U.S.-led invasion.

This is the region of Afghanistan where the deadly attack took place; near the Pakistan border in the Pesh Valley Photo by Tim King Salem-News.com

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Department of Defense announced today the names of nine soldiers who were killed in the deadliest attack yet against Americans in Afghanistan, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The U.S. soldiers killed in the attack were:

1st Lieutenant Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24, of Hawaii.

Sergeant Israel Garcia, 24, of Long Beach, California

Corporal Jonathan R. Ayers, 24, of Snellville, Georgia

Corporal Jason M. Bogar, 25, of Seattle, Washington

Corporal Jason D. Hovater, 24, of Clinton, Tennessee

Corporal Matthew B. Phillips, 27, of Jasper, Georgia

Corporal Pruitt A. Rainey, 22, of Haw River, North Carolina

Corporal Gunnar W. Zwilling, 20, of Florissant, Missouri

Private first class Sergio S. Abad, 21, of Morganfield, Kentucky

The soldiers died of wounds suffered when their outpost was attacked and overrun by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades from enemy forces in Wanat, Afghanistan, on July 13th. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

The tragic losses are mirrored by many recent collateral deaths suffered by Afghans over misguided or poorly aimed U.S. bombs.

In spite of the support Americans have seen in this country, Afghan people still seem incensed by the recent bombing deaths that included three health aid workers from a non governmental entity serving the people living in this war zone.

"Such acts provoke public hatred towards internal and foreign forces and force people to join the enemy who encourages them to carry out terrorist and suicide attacks," said the state-run Hewad newspaper earlier this month.

"Such arbitrary bombing raids and brutal killings have been repeated so many times during the past nearly seven years that now it is difficult to believe these foreign forces have come to our country for assistance," the pro-government Weesa daily said.

There is no doubt that people are retaliating. American military commanders have confirmed a 40 per cent increase in Taliban attacks along the eastern border. That surge in recent enemy activity coincided with the start of negotiations between the Pakistan government and militants in the tribal areas of Pakistan in April.

The Christian Science Monitor reported that violence has clearly been on the rise in Afghanistan. It leaves many people questioning the operation, and wondering whether the Taliban-led insurgency is gaining momentum seven years after the fundamentalist Islamic regime was ousted by a U.S.-led invasion.

New word out today suggests that at least 10,000 more Americans will need to go to Afghanistan to reverse the deadly trend.