Is Gordon Brown marching our troops to death?

Gordon Brown stated on April 3rd of this year that he was to send 1,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
Our troops are being sent in to help keep the area secure for the countries next presidential election.
The thing that is most worrying about this is that in February 2009, the death toll of British troops in Afghanistan had reached 148 and can only increase.
Is it right that Gordon is sending more fathers, sons, uncles etc to potential harm? Or do you believe that it is an occupational hazard?
For more on Gordon Brown's plans for our troops go to:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/apr/03/1000-troops-afghanistan
For more on the death toll in Afghanistan go to:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1155359/British-death-toll-Afghanistan-rises-148-soldiers-killed-Helmand-blast.html

Picture taken from www.canada.com