No U.S. Deaths in Iraq in August first time!!!!

[nmbluesky]

The U.S. has marked its first fatality-free month in Iraq since the beginning of its 2003 invasion. Army officials credit the change—a sharp contrast to June, which was the deadliest month in two years—to the Iraqi government’s new offensive against Shiite militias as well as U.S. strikes. Unfortunately, August also went down as the deadliest month on record for the U.S. in the war in Afghanistan.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html?_r=1

[doc03]

1. That's great now get out of Afghanistan n/t

[kenny blankenship]

2. 30 days without our wards and beneficiaries shooting us in the back of the head - a new record!

[happyslug]

3. August, Winter Wheat planting time, all the Taliban was planting next year's crop

Afghanistan is a Winter Wheat area. Winter Wheat is planted in fall Summer, left to grow till frost, left to over winter till spring, then it re-grows and harvested in late Spring.

Now, in the US winter wheat is planted in September, but in appears it is planted (or at least the ground is prepared for planting) in August. Thus everyone in the Taliban have been busy, and will remain busy for the next month to two, then winter sets in. I expect no real activities till next spring, which has been the norm for fighting in Afghanistan since the time of Alexander the Great.

More on Winter Wheat:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_wheat

[slay]

4. We could have no more US deaths there EVER if would would end these costly, pointless wars

WAR IS A RACKET!

[Go2Peace]

5. Which is great, but how many died in Afganistan?

[rug]

6. 67.

August was deadliest month for American troops in Afghanistan

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-deaths-20110902,0,417450.story