Commander says U.S. .. averaging 3-6 deaths / week in Iraq (40 wounded)

[Nambe]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP)

Nearly six months after the fall of Baghdad, U.S. troops are suffering an average of three to six deaths and 40 wounded every week, the commander of American forces in Iraq said Thursday.

"The enemy has evolved — a little bit more lethal, a little more complex, a little more sophisticated, and in some cases, a little bit more tenacious," said Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez. "The evolution is about what we expected to see over time."

American forces are being attacked 15-20 times a day, counting roadside bombs, mostly in Baghdad and the surrounding Sunni stronghold to the west and north of the capital, Sanchez said. ---

Soldiers whose wounds are not severe are treated in field hospitals in Iraq. Those with more serious wounds are sent to the American military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, after their conditions are stabilized. Some of the most seriously wounded are being sent to the United States. The military would not give a breakdown. ---

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[ConcernedCanuk]

1. This be the "REAL" war. I'm afrad - - -

-

I do not think that the Iraqi's believed for one minute that they could survive the onslaught of 1,000's of tons of missiles and bombs

- and had every intention of fighting this war on the ground

- and on the ground, the Iraqis know the terrain, know how to deal with the heat, and simply "watch and wait"

sorry GeeDubya

- the "war" was not "won" on May 1st - but had only really just begun -

- "the proof is in the pudding" so to speak

- USA is an occupier - not a freedom machine -


DUH !!

Sad - but true -

[FlemingsGhost]

4. We tried to tell them, in earnest.

Alas, there is no joy in this vindication.

The American people have a lot of soul-searching to do...

[Raenelle]

2. He's lowballing it.

Before major combat operations were declared over, there were
March, 59 dead
April, 92 dead

Since dress-up day on the carrier,
May, 31 dead
June, 26 dead
July, 42 dead
August, 37 dead
September, 33 dead
October 1, 3 dead

How is that 3 to 6 a week?!

[lebkuchen]

3. Here's a July "Stripes" article that provides a better breakdown

http://estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=15930&archive=true


LANDSTUHL, Germany — Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is receiving more than twice the number of patients from Operation Iraqi Freedom that it did during the major combat phase of the war.

An average of 48 patients a day were being treated last week, compared with 22 patients a day in March, said Col. David Rubenstein, who relinquished command of the hospital last week for a new post.

<snip>

Last Thursday, 140 patients arrived at the hospital from Operation Iraqi Freedom, said Air Force Maj. Kenny Fink, director of Landstuhl’s Deployed Warrior Medical Management Center. “As far as I know, that was the largest number of patients arriving from OIF in one day,” he said Monday.

<snip>

The hospital, the largest military medical center outside the United States, remains at its 322-bed capacity, nearly twice the number of pre-war beds.

As of Monday, the hospital was handling 400 OIF and OEF patients, Fink said. The increasing patient load comes with no sign of relief.

[TahitiNut]

5. kick

[2cents]

6. WHAT?!

"The evolution is about what we expected to see over time."

It wasn't too long ago we were told the resistance was the last gasp from rag-tag terrorists and Saddam sympathizers.

What's up Rummy - somebody's off script.