2009 with its record death tolls and ever rising violence has finally come to an end in Afghanistan, leaving US and international forces deaths at all time highs, as Afghans look back on a disastrous year and look forward to another disastrous year.

In 2009 304 US soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, over double the number killed in 2008, which was itself the previous high since the war began. Britain also lost 107 soldiers, the most it has seen killed since the Falkland Islands War.

It was a hectic year, with President Obama announcing two massive escalations of the war in March and December, which nearly tripled the American commitment to the conflict. The rising number of foreign troops in the nation is seen as the reason for the rising death toll, but so far the escalations have not met with any of the predicted benefits.

In fact, the Taliban claims control over roughly 80 percent of the country now, an increase from the estimated 72 percent last year. Officials are predicting that 2010 will be even worse in terms of overall death toll.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

• No Deal: US Restarted Pakistan Drone Strikes Despite Objections - February 22nd, 2012
• Syrian National Council Demands Foreign Invasion - February 22nd, 2012
• State Dept.: Pakistani Taliban 'Not Welcome' at Truce Talks - February 22nd, 2012
• Israeli FM: Our Decision to Attack Iran None of US, Russia's Business - February 22nd, 2012
• Hunger Strike Ends, but Adnan's Detention Without Charges Doesn't - February 22nd, 2012