U.S. has first month in Iraq with no combat-related deaths

[usregimechange]

Source: CNN

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- December was the first month since the beginning of the Iraq war in which there were no U.S. combat deaths, the U.S. military reported.

There were three noncombat fatalities.

"That is a very significant milestone for us as we continue to move forward, and I think that also speaks to the level of violence and how it has decreased over time," said Army Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

Since the beginning of the war more than six years ago, 4,373 U.S. military members have died -- 3,477 from hostilities and 898 in non-combat incidents.

Combat fatalities have decreased significantly since June, when the United States started withdrawing troops from Baghdad, Iraq's capital, and other urban areas. The United States also started a troop drawdown in 2009 from about 160,000 to the current level of around 110,000.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/01/01/iraq.us.deaths/index.html

[daleo]

1. I suppose U.S. troops stayed on base and away from trouble

For the most part.

[usregimechange]

2. Fewer targets there as well, lets hope for more of that

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

34. Not so much staying on base as withdrawing from the major cities

and allowing the Iraqis to take the lead. It seems to have set in for the average Iraqi that our forces aren't going to be there forever and they're therefore not worth going out of their way to attack.

[rabs]

3. With the dropping of charges against the Blackwater mercs yesterday

Fear plans are being hatched to target U.S. troops in revenge.

Hoping my fears are unfounded, for the troops' sake.

[boppers]

4. No troops to shoot at = no troops shot.

I'm pretty sure this is not rocket science, if we leave, we'll stop being shot at.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

9. this was my thought too...

the President is drawing down, as he said he would....

funny thing, I heard about it while flipping through radio channels on my way to a Buddhist meeting. Stopped when I heard some news...it was being reported factually, not a slant show (no references to Obama administration policy, but they did say the first time since 2003)...then after the news portion, they returned to the rest of the program and it was.... a Christian station!!! I was surprised.

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

35. For the most part, they're still there, they've just relocated out of the cities.

Though your logic is sound, and as the withdrawal continues as will this trend of decreased anti-U.S. violence.

[pasto76]

5. this makes me really happy.

In the countless discussions and arguments with folks over the past almost 7 years, Ive always said "winning" will be measured by my troops not having to wear body armour. Not leaving the perimieter on RED, not really needing bunkers for mortar or rocket attacks, and most importantly NOT DYING.

I dont care how they fucking spin it, the bad guys didnt get anyone this month.

SGT PASTO

[usregimechange]

6. Yep, lets hope it continues

[Hissyspit]

7. 253 civilian casualties in Iraq for December 2009.

[ProSense]

8. Here is the key thing

Civilian deaths caused by Coalition and Iraqi state forces

Non-combatant Iraqi deaths resulting directly from actions involving US-led coalition forces were dramatically lower than in the preceding year, with a total of 63 reported by Dec 16 (2008: 594): deaths due to air attacks reduced from 365 in 2008 to 0 in 2009 (as of Dec 16). Deaths involving Iraqi forces were down from 521 in 2008 to 103 in 2009.

Of these deaths caused by US-coalition and Iraqi state forces, the number killed in joint actions fell from 114 in 2008 to 16 in 2009; the overall number of civilians killed by state forces (US-coalition, Iraqi, or both) was 1,001 in 2008 and 150 in 2009.

[usregimechange]

10. We should chart it

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

36. I assume the majority were killed by insurgents?

Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken.

[SpartanDem]

11. Hoping for a lot more months like this

[seeinfweggos]

12. No U.S. combat-related deaths in Iraq in December

Source: cnn

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- December was the first month since the beginning of the Iraq war in which there were no U.S. combat deaths, the U.S. military reported.

There were three noncombat fatalities.

.....

Combat fatalities have decreased significantly since June, when the United States started withdrawing troops from Baghdad, Iraq's capital, and other urban areas. The United States also started a troop drawdown in 2009 from about 160,000 to the current level of around 110,000

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/01/01/iraq.us.deaths/

[tburnsten]

13. Excellent!

I haven't been keeping up with the news like I usually do, I am guessing that for the Iraqi people things are significantly more calm now as well?

Great news, let's hope this trend continues, and cut back on the accidents as well.

[doc03]

14. We wouldn't have had any troops killed in Iraq in

2009 if none were there in the first place.

[doc03]

15. Troops killed in Afghanistan have

also gone down the last couple months but are way up for year:

http://icasualties.org/OEF/ByMonth.aspx

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

20. Yes, and...back to Iraq: this is great news!

[EFerrari]

16. Four of our service people did die in Iraq in December:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7382046&mesg_id=7382089

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

21. Again, no combat related deaths.

[seeinfweggos]

23. non-combat fatalities

[EFerrari]

25. Designated by the Pentagon.

[seeinfweggos]

27. and therefore not true? you have some evidence to the contrary?

[EFerrari]

29. Are you serious?

What part of they lie their asses off for a living is unclear to you

Robert Gates is a career BushCo fixer.

[seeinfweggos]

30. the government has lied before therefore they are lying about this.

that is the whole of your premise and conclusion? that's a fascinating approach to things. and by fascinating i mean knee-jerk.

[EFerrari]

31. Four of our service people did die in Iraq in December:

No matter how you characterize me.

Four lives have been lost.

[seeinfweggos]

32. four lives have been lost because they were in the military

not because they or that military were in iraq.

[seeinfweggos]

33. and btw, this news really doesn't sit well with you does it?

[EFerrari]

40. It seems a little dishonest.

[seeinfweggos]

42. no, dishonest would be implying the military is engaged in some sort of cover-up

of the handful of non-combat deaths when you have nothing for evidence much less proof. fact of the matter is that obama said he would have us out of iraq in 16 months during the campaign. he has been president for 11.5 months and troop levels are down by a third and combat fatalities are down to nothing (at least for last month.) and as for the non-combat deaths, that number of service people probably would have gotten killed regardless of whether we were in iraq. the military can be a very dangerous job even in peace time, lot's of young folks with dangerous, heavy equipment. hell i bet it would be hard to find a population of over 100,000 humans were 3-5 people at least didn't get killed in a month.

[EFerrari]

43. Nope. Dishonest would be to ignore these deaths

via a slick headline.

[seeinfweggos]

44. uh, the reason you know about them is because the military released them when they

released the combat fatality number of zero. what exactly is dishonest?

[EFerrari]

45. Right but that wasn't the headline, was it?

The spam is "no combat deaths in Iraq". A distinction without a difference.

[seeinfweggos]

46. you are smarter than that, i think. the headline was correct and appropriate

the fact that for the first time since 2003 ZERO american troops have been killed in action in iraq IS a bigger story than 3-5 people killed in accidents (as sad as that is)and you know that.

you are either being purposefully obtuse or obama's apparent success thus far in iraq, consistent with his campaign promises, is causing you cognitive dissonance.

[EFerrari]

47. No, I'm not being obtuse and not suffering Freon dissonance, thanks.

The headline is simply misleading but carry on.

[seeinfweggos]

48. you must explain the freon reference

[rollin74]

17. Good news!

[Bigmack]

18. Don't sell that stock...

in the body-bag manufacturing company yet! The toll in Afghanistan is going up.... and it sounds like Yemen next. After that... who knows where.

The US death machine won't be stopped by a small drop in casualties in one location. There's a world to conquer out there, after all.

One fucking death is too many. Bring them home.... TODAY!

[liquid diamond]

19. Defending our country isn't conquering.

The Yemen government is working with us to root out Al-Qaeda. How is that conquering them?

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

22. Nicely said.

[doc03]

24. Are you the Antichrist (post number 666)?

:scared:

[liquid diamond]

26. Hahaha.

I didn't notice that, but you've been there before too!

[doc03]

28. Ok I feel better now it went to 667, I've been listening

to Coast to Coast too much.:tinfoilhat:

[Bigmack]

37. Ok... not conquering....

how about "extending our sphere of influence".. or "guarding our vital national interests"... or "spreading freedom"... or "someotherbullshit". We have been "working with" governments" all over the world to further our imperialist goals for over a century. I don't have to name names if you've read any history.

"I believe that if we had and would keep our dirty, bloody, dollar soaked fingers out of the business of these (Third World) nations so full of depressed, exploited people, they will arrive at a solution of their own. And if unfortunately their revolution must be of the violent type because the `haves' refuse to share with the `have-nots' by any peaceful method, at least what they get will be their own, and not the American style, which they don’t want and above all don’t want crammed down their throats by Americans." –
Gen. David Shoup, United States Marine Commandant (during the first part of my time in the Corps) Medal of Honor recipient.

[yurbud]

38. good news for the troops and hopefully, it means the Iraqis don't feel like they are getting screwed

[AlphaCentauri]

39. seems like money has been distributed properly this time n/t

[RainMickey]

41. Good. Get the hell out now. n/t