A U.S. Army soldier calls for an airstrike on the hills surrounding the remote village of Barge Matal during Operation Mountain Fire in eastern Nuristan province, Afghanistan, July 12, 2009. Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew C. MoellerThe New Fight in Afghanistan (Audio) -- On Point
It’s full battle time in Afghanistan. American troop levels surging. Daily firefights, roadside bombings, suicide attacks. Planes and helicopters going down. Poppy fields and opium stores ablaze.
Coalition forces are on the move, fighting, dying. Just three weeks in, this month, July, is already the deadliest for U.S. troops in nearly eight years of Afghan war.
A new top U.S. commander is armed with a new strategy: “clear, hold and build.” But the Taliban has strategies, too. And critics now call the war “Obama’s Vietnam.”
This hour, On Point: We’ll go to the heart of the fighting, and thinking, in Afghanistan.
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More News On Afghanistan
Vice President Biden: Afghan war is 'worth the effort' -- BBC
Biden Warns of More ‘Sacrifice’ in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Biden: Expect more casualties in Afghanistan -- AP
Afghanistan moves troops to south, clashes in north -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Deadly violence spreads to Afghan north -- Daily Times
German soldiers taking part in major offensive in Afghanistan -- China View
Helmand: The more troops you use, the less you lose -- The Telegraph
Afghanistan rounds up would-be bombers: officials -- AFP
Britain's PM Defends Afghanistan Mission -- Voice of America
UK soldier dies in Afghanistan -- BBC
2 US troops, 1 Briton killed in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP
British soldier killed in Afghanistan explosion taking death toll to 188 -- The Telegraph
Soldiers going to Afghanistan learn to reduce risk of being maimed -- Times Online
American pleads guilty in attack on U.S. base in Afghanistan -- CNN
U.S. Citizen Admits al Qaeda Ties -- Wall Street Journal
Afghanistan's bravest woman brings her message to UK -- Times Online
Karzai snubs TV debate ahead of Afghan poll -- AFP
Afghan Democracy Bares Its Rough Edges -- Wall Street Journal
Hundreds rally for soldier captured in Afghanistan -- McClatchy News
Afghan Gov't Orders HamidKarzai.com Shut Down -- CBS
Mongolia to send troops to Afghanistan -- AFP
Afghanistan: Dangerous illusions -- The Guardian opinion
Afghanistan worse than ever -- Toronto Star opinion
U.S. Deaths Hit A Record High In Afghanistan -- Washington Post
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 670 -- AP
FACTBOX-Military deaths in Afghanistan -- Reuters