Intel report: Afghanistan facing 'downward spiral' - AP

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Another lost war we are obliged to pump lives and money into.

"When you're wounded and lyin' on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women are comin' to cup up the remains,
Jist roll on your rifle and blow out your brains,
And go to yer Gawd like a soldier."

Rudyard Kipling

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081009/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/afghanistan_intelligence_5

WASHINGTON - The situation in Afghanistan now is the worst since the U.S.-led invasion of 2001 and the country is in danger of a "downward spiral" into violence and chaos, according to an intelligence report draft.

The nearly completed National Intelligence Estimate, the work of 16 intelligence agencies, says Afghanistan's deterioration has accelerated alarmingly in past two months. Bush administration officials say privately that Afghanistan is now the single most pressing security threat in the fight against terrorism.

Military figures show that Afghanistan has become far more dangerous for American troops than Iraq. More than twice as many Americans have died in Afghanistan than in Iraq since May, even though there are more than five times the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.

The administration has announced plans to send 3,500 additional Marines to Afghanistan before year's end and then an Army brigade of about 5,000 soldiers early in 2009. As many as three additional Army brigades could follow in the months after that. Currently the U.S. has 31,000 troops in Afghanistan. There also are 31,000 troops from NATO countries and other allies.