SPY EYES

While Americans and the media were focused on vice presidential debate and the investigation into the timeline and security of the US Consulate in Benghazi, there were two more deaths in Afghanistan. DoD has made some adjustments to its figures in yesterday's report moving deaths contributing from the non hostile deaths category to killed in action. This brings this year's combat deaths (KIA) to 214, while 85 were killed in hostile action. The number of wounded in action is approaching the 2,000 mark.

Despite the debate that took place, Americans will have varying opinions on the spin presented by both Vice President Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan, especially in regard to the foreign policy debate. The Washington Post did a thorough fact check,which speaks for itself.

The issue of the consulate attack in Benghazi has been in the forefront by some in the mainstream media and there are serious questions about what the Obama administration knew when, in view of information available within 24 hours after the attack.

On October 9th, Ann Gearan of the Washington Post wrote:

Less than two months before the fatal attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, the State Department concluded that the risk of violence to diplomats and other Americans in Libya was high and that the weak U.S.-backed government in Tripoli could do little about it.

“The risk of U.S. Mission personnel, private U.S. citizens and businesspersons encountering an isolating event as a result of militia or political violence is HIGH,” a State Department security assessment from July 22 concludes. Washington Post

There was also concern about the security detail, which was cut just two days prior to the attack, leaving the security of the mission post to local militias. Biden said during the debate that the White House was not aware of the requests, but was the White House aware of the security concern? If they weren't they should have been.

Since the death of Osama Bin Laden, the president and his surrogates used the death to tout how strong the president was on national security, Vice President Biden's famous comments "GM is alive and Bin Laden is dead" was the battle cry of the DNCC.

With al-Qaida spreading throughout North Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan, this appears to be another myth.

Lara Logan, a CBC reporter with 60 minutes has spend some time in the Middle East, including Egypt and Afghanistan. Two weeks ago she did a segment on 60 minutes, in which she interviewed President Hamid Karzai, General John Allen and a Talibancommander. The subject of Eastern Afghanistan came up and it was clear from her interview that there were Al Qaida elements in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, which trained local Taliban on the arts of insurgency.

Logan gave a speech on Tuesday October 9 a crowd of about 1,100 at the Better Government Association annual luncheon. She accused the administration of downplaying the number of al-Qaida operatives in Afghanistan to support its rush to leave.

"I chose this subject because, one, I can't stand that there is a major lie being propagated, That lie, she explained, is that the American military has weakened the Taliban."

Logan also criticized the narrative coming out of Washington for the past two year. She said that it came from Taliban apologists who claim they are just the poor moderate, gentler kinder Taliban. She described that sort of talk as nonsense. Source: foxnews

While the economy is still the number one issue, the war in Afghanistan is likely to come under closer scrutiny during the debates, as will the events in Libya and the complete policy in the Middle East.

For the most part, NATO, the US Administration and the Romney/Ryan team are fooling themselves. It is not likely that the word "victory" will ever be used in conjunction with Afghanistan. The best possible solution for Afghanistan is to cut our losses and bring the troops home. The Taliban and al-Qaida are not diminished, no matter how badly one wants to wish them away. As long as this war lasts, there will be coffins draped with flags returning to NATO countries. This alone is a tragedy, but add to that the number of Afghans that are killed, Lest We Forget.

Roll of Casualties

Below are this week’s updated DoD casualty figures:

Op Enduring Freedom Total Deaths KIA Non Hostile WIA737

Afghanistan Only------------2007--------1672-----335-----17684

Other Locations----------------118-----------12-----106

DoD Civ Casualties--------------3-------- ----1--------2

Worldwide Total-------------2128-------- 1685------443----17684

Accumulated 2012 Casualties:

KIA Non Combat Deaths WIA

214------------85---------------1899