Iraqi Casualties Have Risen 51%, U.S. Study Finds

[swag]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/02/world/middleeast/02military.html

By MICHAEL R. GORDON
Published: September 2, 2006

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 — Iraqi casualties soared by more than 50 percent in recent months, the product of spiraling sectarian clashes and a Sunni-based insurgency that remains “potent and viable,” the Pentagon said in its latest comprehensive assessment of security in Iraq.

During the period from the establishment of the new Iraqi government on May 20 until Aug. 11, the average number of weekly attacks jumped to almost 800. That was a substantial increase from earlier this year and almost double the number of the first part of 2004.

As a consequence, Iraqi casualties increased 51 percent over the last reporting period. The document notes that, based on initial reports, Iraqi casualties among civilians and security forces reached nearly 120 a day, up from about 80 a day in the pervious reporting period from mid-February to mid-May. About two years ago they were running about 30 a day.

“Although the overall number of attacks increased in all categories, the proportion of those attacks directed against civilians increased substantially,” the Pentagon noted. “Death squads and terrorists are locked in mutually reinforcing cycles of sectarian strife, with Sunni and Shia extremists each portraying themselves as the defenders of their respective sectarian groups.”

. . .

[MsKandice01]

1. I'm really worried about Riverbend..

I hope she updates her blog soon.

[wellst0nev0ter]

2. I Wonder If The Latest Upsurge In Violence

is just the killers simply adopting new tactics to adjust to the new security situation.

[struggle4progress]

3. Coordinated blasts astonishing even by Iraqi standards

Bombs on timers show sinister new turn in terrorism
By PATRICK J. MCDONNELL and RAHEEM SALMAN
Los Angeles Times

BAGHDAD, IRAQ - ..it was all real enough in Habibiya and other districts of east Baghdad, targets of a highly coordinated bombardment stunning even by this capital's gruesome standards. The official toll from Thursday's attack: 63 killed and 282 injured. Of the dead, 19 were children under 16 and 24 were women, a police official said ..

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4158359.html

[Spazito]

4. Ahhh, I found the newly coined euphemism for civil war....

it is the term "spiraling sectarian clashes". When that term is used we KNOW they are talking about civil war but just won't use the words. What a pile of crap the news media has become, they regurgitate the new repub terminology without question.

[OneBlueSky]

5. um . . . I thought we didn't track Iraqi casualties . . . n/t

.

[Danmel]

6. I get it now

We're going to SAVE the Iraqis by facilitating their deaths. Then they can repent and accept Jesus and spend eternity at his side. All part of the master plan. Idiots.

Just whose side ar ewe on in this Civil War Anyway? The Sunnis? So we can repress the Shia majority like Saddam did?
The Shia, so we can strengthen their ties with Iran?

What a mess.

[Az_lefty]

7. Iraq is lost...

these ass-hats running the show totally screwed the pooch with this one. I have a number of friends who just redeployed over there, I hope to God they stay safe.