Five Fort Richardson soldiers die in one week.

[Blue_In_AK]

Army Identifies Three Fort Rich Soldiers Killed in Iraq Saturday

TOLL: Number of dead jumps by five in last week, prompting outcry for a troop withdrawal.

By JAMES HALPIN
The Associated Press

Published: August 7, 2007
Last Modified: August 7, 2007 at 02:07 AM

The deaths of five Fort Richardson soldiers in Iraq within a week has some Alaskans calling for the end of the war but the state's senior congressional member said premature withdrawal would leave Iraq in anarchy.

"If we left this country prematurely it would be absolute anarchy and al-Qaida would take over one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world," said Sen. Ted Stevens in a written statement.

Rich Moniak, a member of Military Families Speak Out in Alaska, disagreed. "We're just dumping failure on top of failure," he said Monday. "It's just plain wrong. We've got to get out. We don't belong there."

<snip>

Since the Fort Richardson unit deployed last fall, 51 soldiers have been killed. Last year, 26 soldiers based out of Fort Wainwright were killed during a tour that ended in December.

<snip>

Moniak said the decision made by President Bush in January to send an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq is not working. He said it's only allowed the number of casualties and injuries to rise, and that soldiers are increasingly returning severely injured.

"They will be impacted for the rest of their lives," he said.

<snip>

The soldiers lost in the past week were among 3,500 members assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, which deployed to Iraq last fall and is due back in January. ... The next of kin for the three soldiers killed Saturday have been notified, the army said. That's not the case with one of two paratroopers killed July 31 during an attack on their base in Iraq. That soldier's family has not yet been notified, Allen said Monday, which means neither man's name can be released yet.

http://www.adn.com/news/military/iraq/story/9200653p-9116292c.html

[Bumblebee]

1. Six from Fort Lewis (WA) in three days

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/326513_wardead07.html

Staff Sgt. Fernando Santos, 29, of San Antonio and Loganville, Ga.; and Spec. Eric Domingo Salinas, 25, of Houston died with him when a bomb hidden in the road blew up near their vehicle in Baghdad, Army officials said. Together they left behind eight children.

Eleven other soldiers were wounded in the attack. in threeThe soldiers' deaths bring to 79 the number of servicemen and servicewomen from Washington or its bases who have been killed in Iraq this year. It is the deadliest year ever for Washington troops. The three were among six 3rd Stryker Brigade soldiers killed in a three-day span.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

2. But don't you know American casualties are dropping??!!

We are winning the war according to the media!!!!

[LeftishBrit]

3. That is so sad

"....al-Qaida would take over one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world," said Sen. Ted Stevens in a written statement.

Interesting that he's more-or-less admitting that it's about oil.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Very obvious to me, as well.

Like you say, at least he's telling it like it is, unlike ** with all that talk about Iraqi freedom and democracy and protecting us from Al Qaeda. What a joke THAT is.