In a sign of growing concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and a renewed commitment to kill or capture al-Qaida's top leadership, the United States has launched military strikes across the border into Pakistan. These attacks signal U.S. frustration with Pakistan's efforts to battle Islamic militants in the border regions. They also risk alienating Pakistan's military and undermining its civilian government.
There has been rising concern over the deterioration of security in Afghanistan. It is estimated that nearly 1,500 Afghan civilians were killed in the first eight months of 2008, a death toll 39 percent higher than the previous year.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, has confessed that he is not convinced the U.S. is winning in Afghanistan. The top NATO commander in Afghanistan said he needs as many as 15,000 more troops to strengthen the 71,000 foreign soldiers already on the ground — and that is on top of 5,000 U.S. troops already scheduled to deploy.