Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another British Soldier has died in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 245 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, in that total 212 have died in combat operations, while 33 have died due to illness, accidents or other incidents. This loss of a soldier happened on the 31 December 2009, one has to postulate there will be more deaths next year, as President Obama has set a 2011 deadline for his second surge in Afghanistan, the Taliban/Al Qaeda will make the effort to make any withdrawal after that date looked like surrender by Obama in the face to constant Taliban/Al Qaeda attack on US and NATO forces. Thus it can be argued that next year will be very bloody for Western forces in operational theatre.