NATO Losing Men and Support in Afghanistan

NATO has suffered the deaths of 200 soldiers in Afghanistan so far this year, making January to mid-May 2010 the deadliest few months for Western forces since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Around this time last year only 119 NATO soldiers were killed.

This death toll was reached after two Italian soldiers were killed while driving over a roadside bomb on Monday. Two other Italians were seriously wounded.

The United States and its NATO allies will be increasing troop strength in Afghanistan to 150,000. About two thirds of these soldiers will be American. This ignores the advice of top military commanders who claim that a troop increase will lead to more fatalities during the Summer months.

According to a poll conducted by the International Council on Security and Development, 61% of Afghans feel more negative about NATO since before the Marjah offensive.