Wire: Bomb Kills US Servicemember in Afghanistan

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that an American servicemember died Tuesday of wounds suffered in a bombing the day before in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. command said.

The death was the first for the U.S. in September and comes after the deadliest month of the eight-year Afghan war for American troops.

At least 49 U.S. troops died in Afghanistan in August, according to a count by The Associated Press based on official announcements.

Taliban attacks spiked this summer and there are now a record level of American forces in the country -- more than 62,000, AP said.

President Barack Obama committed 21,000 new American forces to Afghanistan this year, bringing the total U.S. commitment to 68,000 by the end of the year.

A record 100,000 U.S. and NATO troops are stationed in Afghanistan.

(Report from newswire sources.)

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