As Afghan war Escalates, Military Expert Predict 300-500 U.S. Troops Killed or Wounded Per Month

Last Month, President Obama announced that that he would send a additional 30,000 troops Afghanistan. shortly, after decision was made, General David Petraeus head of U.S. Central Command, warned of increased violence in the Central Asian country as the new troops arrived. Now, retired General Barry McCaffery, who teaches international affairs at West Point and who has repeatedly visited Afghanistan to assess the situation here, is estimating that American casualties could go as high as"300 to 500" killed or wounded a month by next summer. "Americans should be prepared to accept hundreds of casualties each month in Afghanistan during the spring offensive with enemy forces. The dire forecast was made by retired Gen. Barry McCaffery, an adjunct professor of international affairs at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, in a periodic assessment of political and security issues he has conducted in the war zone since 2003. "What I want to do is signal that this thing is going to be $5 billion to $10 billion a month and 300 to 500 killed and wounded by next summer. That's what we probably should expect. And that's light casualties,"said McCaffery, who is president of his own consulting firm in Arlington, Virgina and has conducted numerous trips to the war zone to assesses the political and military challenges at hand. 2009 was the deadliest year for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, with 312 soldiers losing their lives. Written by Zaid Jilani Think Progress.