Army experts study increase in non-combat deaths in Iraq

[ProSense]

Army experts study increase in non-combat deaths in Iraq

12 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A team of US army safety experts are in Iraq to study a recent surge in non-combat deaths that have coincided with extended 15-month deployments for US troops, a senior military official said Monday.

Lieutenant General Carter Ham, operations director of the Joint Staff, said commanders in Iraq were concerned enough about the spike in non-combat deaths that it has asked for an assessment by the army team.

According to Pentagon figures, 29 soldiers died in August for reasons unrelated to combat, and another 23 died of non-combat causes in September. That compared with just seven in August last year and 11 the following month.

"We don't yet know what may have caused an increase in the non-battle casualties," Ham said.

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Why do I get the feeling there is information being withheld (lies being told) in a number or areas?

[unhappycamper]

1. w8liftinglady asked that question on 9.22.2007

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x4438

Maybe we'll get some answers.

[ProSense]

2. There may actually be something to this:

Dissent and discussion: Casualties in Iraq

Of course, none of the soldiers would have died in Iraq if U.S. troops weren't there, and that's one reason to count all casualties when talking about the American cost of the war. But hostile deaths are more reflective of actual contact with the enemy and a better number to gauge the pace of combat operations.

Could it be that U.S. troops are doing fewer patrols? Still, it doesn't answer the increase in non-hostile deaths.