U.S. Troops Death Toll Mounts as Iraq Danger Persists

U.S. Troops Death Toll Mounts as Iraq Danger Persists
Fri Sep 3, 2004 01:30 PM ET


By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military death toll in Iraq is approaching 1,000, with the danger faced by American troops undiminished in the two months since the formation of an interim government.

The United States transferred sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government headed by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on June 28, officially ending the occupation. But more than 137,000 U.S. troops and 23,000 allied foreign soldiers remain in Iraq protecting Allawi's government and fighting a persistent insurgency that has left much of the country a battleground.

Since the March 2003 invasion to topple President Saddam Hussein, 976 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq, the Pentagon said on Friday, while another 6,916 have been wounded.

The average monthly U.S. military death toll has been about 55 troops in the 17-1/2 months of war. Forty-two U.S. troops died in Iraq in June. After the hand-over, 54 were killed in July and 66 in August.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=6148379

The Bush campaign presents this administration as the most effective tool against terrorism, and yet, we have a war in Iraq based on a lie, that is increasing the threat to our country, alienating our allies, exploding our budget deficit, and killing or maiming our soldiers. All for nothing.

Yet no one talks about it.

Let's all chase that white rabbit, shall we?

in Detroit (charges dropped against defendants), protesters and reporters infiltrating RNC security, yep we're definitely safer. Not.

the 5th most deadly month.

Weapons of Mouth Destruction is all I see!

It's obviously escalating in intensity...

I read in another article that attacks on US troops are up to 60 per DAY!!! That's quite the escalation yet not mention in this article..

what utter horseshit.... :puke:

<snip>
"Casualties are a fact of warfare. We are a nation at war," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman. "We are safer today because of the sacrifices and the brave service of our men and women in uniform."


Whitman said the milestone of 1,000 troops dead in Iraq, which could be reached in two weeks if the current daily average of two U.S. military deaths persists, must be viewed in the broader context of American deaths either in terrorist incidents or in fighting terrorism.


"I would say that we passed that milestone in America a long time ago. Since 1970, we've had more than 5,000 Americans who have died in terrorist bombings, hijackings, shootings and other attacks," Whitman said.

...and he ends with this gem...

<snip>
Whitman said Iraq's police forces and fledgling military eventually will be able to provide security, and "U.S. and coalition forces won't be needed."

back to 1970? Why 1970? Why not go back to 1790? Then think how many troops we can justify losing fighting meaningless wars. What stupid logic. It's precisely this kind of logic that put over 50,000 names on that black wall on the mall. We forget that at our peril.

We now have IRAQNAM!

And need I add--- Cowardly Draft Dodger

It is shameful. But never mind. Pat Peale has a funny joke she does with a purple bandaid.

what war?where`s bin laden? where is the anthrax killer? where`s my money..............

9/11! 9/11! 9/11! 9/11!
9/11! 9/11! 9/11! 9/11!