Over 16,534,206 people are on fubar.
What are you waiting for?
Kabul, Afghanistan – There is, perhaps, no place in the world that has seen more conflict than Afghanistan. Dating from at least the sixth century B.C.E. conquerors have attempted to hold onto the wild lands that make up the country and all have 
ultimately failed. Even great military leaders such as Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan found themselves challenged by Afghan geography and people. In the modern era, the country has seen invasions by two of the most powerful nations to ever exist, helping to damn one into history and tying the other one up for almost a decade.
Because of the nature of the country and its long history of thwarting invaders Afghanistan is often viewed as a wild land, barren in the modern sensibility, and a appearance of unmitigated hostility, the country has long been one the least desirable of vacation spots. Now with the report of the deaths of 11 soldiers and three DEA agents any growing good will directed towards the country has dissipated, causing many in the Obama administration to rethink their policy of sending soldiers into war zones.
“There were two incidents two report. In one, a helicopter went down in the west of the country after leaving the scene of a firefight, killing 10 Americans—seven troops and three Drug Enforcement Administration agents,” said Marine spokesman Maj. Bill Pelletier. “In a separate incident, two U.S. Marine helicopters—one UH-1 and an AH-1 Cobra—collided in flight before sunrise over the southern province of Helmand, killing four American troops and wounding two more. During the operation, insurgent forces engaged the joint force and more than a dozen enemy fighters were killed in the ensuing firefight.”
The deaths come on the eve of a major conference for the Obama administration on the state of the situation in Afghanistan. The conflict there has been ongoing since the terrorist attacks on 9/11 but it has been four years since the last major report of American deaths. It’s not yet clear what position the administration will take on the situation in the country now that so many soldiers have been killed.
“There is the idea that soldiers are designed to be killed. It’s a tragedy no doubt, but they are a part of the military and they are there to fight and die for their country. That is brought into clear focus, at least that question, when you have incidents like these. Unfortunately that’s a question the Obama administration is going to have to answer,” said Scrape TV International Conflict analyst Mario Martinez. “The truth is soldiers are going to die as long as they are placed in harm’s way and the President and the military leadership are going to have to decide whether or not its worth that risk, or sacrifice, in order to win the war.”
Throughout the history of conflict between differing human societies, soldiers have often been killed. Generally, the side with the most deaths loses the war, which has been the case thus far in Afghanistan, the victory excepted.
“The unfortunate reality is as long as the military puts guns in the hands of soldiers and places them in areas where enemy soldiers can shoot at them there is a very good chance that they will be killed or at the very least injured. That is something that they are going to have to come to terms with,” continued Martinez. “This isn’t just an American thing though. The same rules apply to soldiers in every conflict around the world. Unless they are able to dodge bullets there’s a very good chance they will be hit by one.”
In related news, stubbed toes and bunions amongst American troops has shown a marked decline since the introduction of new padded insoles.
