Dear Commons Community,

After  more than a decade of war in Afghanistan, the U.S. reached a grim milestone on Wednesday  when the 2,000th American died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Marine Cpl. Taylor J. Baune of Andover, Minn., was killed in Helmand province, Afghanistan, according to the Star-Tribune. Baune had married his wife just three months prior to his deployment.

Yesterday NBCNews referred to Afghanistan as America’s “forgotten war.

“It was once President Barack Obama’s “war of necessity.” Now, it’s America’s forgotten war.

The Afghan conflict generates barely a whisper on the U.S. presidential campaign trail. It’s not a hot topic at the office water cooler or in the halls of Congress — even though more than 80,000 American troops are still fighting here and dying at a rate of one a day.

Americans show more interest in the economy and taxes than the latest suicide bombings in a different, distant land. They’re more tuned in to the political ad war playing out on television than the deadly fight still raging against the Taliban. Earlier this month, protesters at the Iowa State Fair chanted “Stop the war!” They were referring to one purportedly being waged against the middle class.

By the time voters go to the polls Nov. 6 to choose between Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, the war will be in its 12th year. For most Americans, that’s long enough.”

I am sure this war is not forgotten and never will be for the families and friends of the 2,000 Americans killed.

Tony