US troops' death toll hits landmark figure

[ze_dscherman]

The number of US troops killed by hostile forces during the occupation of Iraq exceeded those killed during the war itself when two US soldiers died in an attack north of Baghdad last night.

The two soldiers were killed and another wounded when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb about 75 miles north of Baghdad, the US military said today.

Their deaths brought to 116 the number of US troops killed in hostile action since the US president, George Bush, declared major combat operations over on May 1. The US has said 115 troops died in combat during the six-week war that began on March 20.

The point at which all deaths of US military personnel, regardless of cause, equalled deaths during the conflict was reached on August 26. At that point, 138 people had died in Iraq through hostilities, vehicle accidents, illness and other causes in the post-May 1 occupation, the same number as died in the war.

Up to 15,000 Iraqis - 4,300 of them civilians - died during just the first four weeks of the war, according to a study released yesterday by an independent US thinktank, Project on Defence Alternatives. Iraq Body Count, a volunteer group of British and US academics and researchers, has estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 civilians died in the conflict.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1073491,00.html

[underpants]

1. The whole fricking things is such a shame

:-(

[saigon68]

2. "BRING EM ON" cried the cowardly Chimpanzee

"We will and every day " shouted Sadaam and followers

"Oh my God its my Child", weeped the New Gold Star Mother.

Thanks a lot Shrub--- you Mother Fucker

[brainshrub]

3. This is nothing, the party has just gotten started...

I have posted the following info before, and will continue doing so until people understand that what is going on in Iraq is going to make Vietnam look like a day at Disneyland.

Body count for Vietnam:

http://www.archives.gov/research_room/research_topics/vietnam_war_casualty_lists/statistics.html#year

For "coalition" body count:

http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx

--

Total official body count for "coalition forces" to date: 414

Total official body count for the first 9 years of Vietnam: 401

Also, read William Rivers Pitt essay on the similarities between the Tet offensive & what has been going on lately in Iraq:

http://truthout.org/docs_03/102803A.shtml

[silverchair]

4. interesting figures

that really puts things into perspective. i would like to send that to the repukes that i know.

[sleipnir]

5. Very interesting, but kinda misleading

I did read that essay, he makes some very good points. Though on the body count comparisions, I often find that these are not entirely useful or accurate.

Remember, that we had only a fraction of the troops in Vietnam in the first 10 years than we have now in Iraq. Also, those troops in Vietnam were highly trained, specialized "observers" and it's a HELL OF lot harder to kill a Green Beret in the middle of the jungle than Private "Lack of Training" Smith, from the umpteenth something Support Brigade walking around Baghdad or riding in a Humvee. Not that the deaths are less meaningful, but we have to remember, it's much easier for the Iraqi opposition to kill our soliders than it was for the VC and NVA in the first 9 years of Vietnam. The Tet Offensive was also backed by China, and sorry, but Iraq doesn't have a superpower behind it supplying weapons and training, so the comparision to Tet is a little misleading as well.

[LiberalTexan]

6. Yes, but.......

"Also, those troops in Vietnam were highly trained, specialized "observers" and it's a HELL OF lot harder to kill a Green Beret in the middle of the jungle than Private "Lack of Training" Smith, from the umpteenth something Support Brigade walking around Baghdad or riding in a Humvee. "

Yes, but they were supposed to be throwing FLOWERS at us, not grenades! Remember?

[Sushi_lover]

7. a very sad milestone

I knew this milestone would happen. When he did the carrier stunt, I made a mental note of how sad the day would be when it got here.

What a waste this war is.

He angrifies me.

[snippy]

8. The media should report the number dead since "Bring 'em On." 153

Total deaths since July 2nd: 153
(Pres. Bush announces, "Bring Them On")

http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx

[dArKeR]

9. 233Attacks on US in Last Week Alone

BAGHDAD, 30 October 2003 — In a dramatic upsurge in attacks, resistance fighters destroyed an American tank north of Baghdad and wounded seven Ukrainians in the first ambush of multinational troops stationed south of the capital, US and coalition officials said yesterday.

US policy in Iraq suffered another setback when the international Red Cross announced it was reducing its international staff in the country, two days after a deadly suicide car-bombing at its Baghdad headquarters.

Secretary of State Colin Powell had urged the Red Cross and other non-government organizations to remain in Iraq because “if they are driven out, then the terrorists win.”

The latest attacks — 233 over the last seven days according to the US military — have driven the combat death toll during the occupation over the number killed before President George W. Bush declared an end to active combat on May1 .

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=34366&d=30&m=10&y=2003