TRAGEDY IN AFGHANISTAN – AT 10:29 A.M. ET:  The United States has suffered its single greatest loss in the history of the Afghan war:

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A military helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. special operation troops and seven Afghan commandos, the country's president said Saturday. An American official said it was apparently shot down, in the deadliest single incident for American forces in the decade-long war.

The Taliban claimed they downed the helicopter with rocket fire while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak late Friday.

Americans have forgotten about Afghanistan.  This will remind them that Americans are still dying there, and it brings home once again the impact of the war on military families.  America is not at war.  The military is at war, and most Americans have no contact with the military. 

Cynics and propagandists will use this loss to advance their political platform on Afghanistan.  They always do.  We should do what is strategically wise.

Let us also remember that casualties in Iraq are increasing, just as we are pulling out.  The two are probably related, with attempts by Iran-backed insurgents to make life as miserable for our troops as possible, while destabilizing the country once we leave.

Once again, foreign policy goes to the front page, having been relegated to the sports section as he face our financial crisis.

August 6, 2011