U.S. dropping fewer Afghanistan bombs Apr 08,2009 00:00 by UPI
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Air Force is dropping fewer bombs in
Afghanistan, reflecting a change in tactics against insurgents,
military statistics indicate.  Air Force data shows that the
overall tonnage of munitions dropped onto Afghanistan in 2008
was 1,314 tons, reversing a trend from 2004 to 2007 that saw
tonnage figures jump 1,100 percent from 163 tons to 1,956 tons,
USA Today reported Wednesday.  Dakota Wood, a military analyst
at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, told the
newspaper the figures demonstrate the limits of airstrikes
against a resilient insurgency and indicate why more ground
troops are needed to provide security in the country.  U.S.
President Barack Obama has so far this year has ordered 21,000
more troops to Afghanistan to help battle Taliban militants.
"The Taliban have been able to regain their footing due to the
lack of U.S. and coalition forces being present on the ground
and the lack of any meaningful A