U.S death toll nears 3,000 in Iraq

[rodeodance]

U.S death toll nears 3,000 in Iraq

By Kristin Roberts and Ross Colvin 2 hours, 46 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military on Friday reported the deaths of five more soldiers in
Iraq as Defense Secretary Robert Gates ended a visit aimed at finding a new strategy to curb violence and allow U.S. troops to withdraw.


Four U.S. servicemen were killed in action on Thursday in Anbar province, heartland of the unrelenting Sunni insurgency against U.S. forces and the Iraqi government and the most dangerous place in Iraq for American soldiers.

A fifth was killed and another wounded west of Baghdad on Friday when their patrol came under machinegun and mortar fire, the U.S. military said. At least 71 U.S. soldiers have died so far this month.

The deaths brought the U.S. toll in Iraq to 2,960, creeping closer to the 3,000 mark and adding more pressure on
President Bush to find a strategy that will allow the eventual withdrawal of 135,000 U.S. troops.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061222/ts_nm/iraq_dc

[Warren Stupidity]

1. "allow the eventual withdrawal of 135,000 "

The troop level, last time I looked is closer to 152,000 and has been for much of this year. I guess fact checking has become a lost skill.

[Quantess]

5. Anything the White House says is worthless in terms of truth or validity or reality. (EOM)

[RamboLiberal]

2. 2,973 was official number killed on 9/11

Prediction is that it will be passed before Christmas.

[uppityperson]

3. 2964

http://icasualties.org/oif/

OK, almost more USA military have officially died in Iraq occupation than people officially died in 9/11 attacks. Wiki says 2,973. I'm going to to start publicizing these "official" numbers for the comparison. I know, I know, but for the people who look at 9/11 as so traumatic but this drip drip drip drip drip drop drip drop as necessary.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. Dec. is 2d-deadliest month for US forces in Iraq in '06

BOSTON GLOBE
Insurgents kill 5 service members

By Solomon Moore, Los Angeles Times | December 23, 2006



BAGHDAD -- Insurgent attacks have killed five more US servicemen, the military said yesterday -- making December the second-deadliest month for American forces in 2006.

Insurgents killed three Marines and one sailor in Anbar Province, and a soldier was killed in an attack in Baghdad that included small-arms fire and explosives, authorities said.

So far this month, 76 American troops have died in Iraq, the same number that were killed in April. With nine days remaining in December, the monthly total of US deaths could meet or exceed the death toll of 105 in October.

As American deaths in the war pushed closer to 3,000, Iraqis continued to fall victim to sectarian violence between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims. Police recovered 21 more bodies in the cities of Baghdad, Baqouba, and Kut.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/12/23/dec_is_2d_deadliest_month_for_us_forces_in_iraq_in_06/