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| Iraq |
| April emerges as the deadliest month for US troops in Iraq |
| 2006-04-06 |
| April is becoming one of the deadlier months for U.S. troops in Iraq, perhaps dashing the hopes of commanders that a three-month-long downward trend in fatalities meant the insurgency was becoming less effective. In the first four days of this month, 16 Marines and Army soldiers have been killed by hostile fire or in accidents, about half the total in all of March. It is threatening to erase a more favorable trend: The first three months of this year experienced a 25 percent decline in the number of U.S. deaths, a drop the military credits to a more robust Iraqi security force and to better armor protection. The number of fatalities in the first quarter is still far more than what the Pentagon expected at this point three years ago, after the invasion to oust Saddam Hussein and his regime. Pentagon and private-group tabulations show that 148 American service members have been killed in Iraq this year as of March 31, compared with 199 in 2005. Both tolls exceed the 119 who died in the first three months of 2004. But that was when the insurgency was not thought to be at its height in terms of its ability to carry out bombings and ambushes. The 31 killed in March was the lowest monthly fatality rate in two years. The numbers are based on Pentagon postings and on the private Iraq Coalition Casualty Count Web site. The 2006 trend closely parallels the rise of Iraq's security forces. They number 242,000, about 100,000 more than a year ago. Their police, army and commando units have taken on more missions and geographic sectors. And they are increasingly the target of attacks, perhaps drawing fire away from the 132,000 U.S. forces deployed in the country. Army Maj. Gen. James Thurman, who commands the 4th Infantry Division in Baghdad, attributes the lower death toll to added experience for U.S. and Iraqi troops. "The Iraqi security forces' capability is getting better," he told reporters at the Pentagon. The number of suicide bombings, principally carried out by al Qaeda terrorists, has averaged 24 a month in 2006, down from 50 per month in the summer, the command reports. The number of wounded also is on a downward path. January 2006 showed 280 wounded, compared with 498 in January 2005. Pentagon's numbers are not complete for February and March of this year. Overall, the number of those wounded dropped from 7,989 in 2004 to 5,944 in 2005. As of Tuesday, 2,344 U.S. troops have been killed since the war began. Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, the military's chief spokesman in Iraq, said the insurgents and members of al Qaeda in Iraq have increased attacks on Iraqis and their security forces by 35 percent in the past six months. "The enemy knows the Iraqi security force is increasing in capability, and he's now targeting the Iraqi security force," Gen. Lynch said. Of U.S. casualties, he said, "I know they're as low as they've ever been." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #7 Bravo, Ptah. This "statistical analysis" of selecting four bad days and extrapolating them to thirty days simply reeks. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2006-04-06 11:27 |
| #6 *sigh* Assuming the rate is the same. Four days does not a month make: a bone-head linear extrapolation indicates that 16*30/4=120 PREDICTED deaths. Of course, they won't mention that statistic since it would blow the scam. Then again, they may not mention that statistic since they may not have the IQ to calculate it. I say we put this in the freezer, pull it out later, and use it as a yardstick for this person's predictive abilities. At the same time, every death DOES hurt, accidental and combat caused. It hurts even MORE now: It's been THREE years since this started, and these fine soldiers either signed up or re-signed up KNOWING what was in store for them. No more soldiers by the name of Ahmed or Mohammed backing out because they changed their minds fighting their brothers. The letter from Ben Stein posted yesterday was golden: every word of it. God not only bless them, but God forgive us for being so unworthy... |
| Posted by: Ptah 2006-04-06 10:34 |
| #5 Verlaine 1) Average IQ is 100 so 1/2 are below that. 2) Katie Couric - is a) considered a journalist by the MSM and b) given a contract to anchor the evening news - which she doesn't have the slightest IQ to understand. Case closed. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-04-06 09:12 |
| #4 Just yesterday I read comments from unnamed US officials saying it was troubling that losses and attacks had not decline, despite US offensive operations and successes. So now we have both disappointment that losses have not declined, and "dashed hopes" that declining losses would be a continuing trend. If one took this "reporting" even somewhat seriously, one might be confused .... |
| Posted by: Verlaine in Iraq 2006-04-06 09:08 |
| #3 It is really quite simple. B-52's bring people to the talkie talkie table. Back off the B-52's and they resume old habits. Gloves need to come off and stay off. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-06 08:40 |
| #2 Glenmore, it doesn't matter. Any increase of anything remotely deemed "Bad" makes the MSM giddy with excitement. They are looking to publish an article furthing there own ends, not one that tells facts |
| Posted by: Charles 2006-04-06 08:25 |
| #1 "... increased attacks on Iraqis and their security forces by 35 percent ..." But have they increased the casualties on Iraqi security forces by 35% as well? It seems like they may be attacking more but accomplishing less. If so, what does that say about the state of the enemy in comparison with the Iraqi forces? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2006-04-06 07:51 |