America's Iraq strategy boosts US combat losses

[maddezmom]

Fri Jun 1, 4:00 AM ET



Washington - May's spike in the American death toll in Iraq is the result of the administration's new approach in Iraq – as much as it is the enemy's own "surge" of attacks against US forces.

In strategic terms, it's called taking it to the enemy.

But analysts warn that if the number of US casualties continues at their current high level through the summer, that could raise questions about whether the strategy is actually working.

May has already been difficult – the third-deadliest month since the Iraq war began. In a candid briefing Thursday, Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of Multinational Corps-Iraq, warned that the situation would be difficult in the months ahead. But the rising number of Americans killed comes as a result not only of insurgent activity but also from US operations in places that forces have not been before.

Such operations by US and Iraqi forces have had their impact, Lieutenant General Odierno said. Since January, 17,946 insurgents, terrorists, or other bad actors have been detained. Of those, nearly 1,500 are considered "high value targets." US and Iraqi forces have also killed more than 3,180 enemy fighters; another 1,016 have been wounded, he said.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070601/ts_csm/atoll;_ylt=AtmjnTYKrtw4CDeW2hs2JoWs0NUE

Iraqi violent deaths at a glance
look at violent deaths in Iraq, based on an Associated Press count. The total AP count includes Iraqi civilians, government officials and police and security forces, and is considered a minimum based on AP reporting. The actual number is likely higher, as many killings go unreported.

• DEATHS BY MONTH: May is the third-deadliest month for Iraqis since the AP began tracking civilian casualties in April 2005, with at least 2,077 killed as of May 30. The deadliest months in the past two years were December 2006, when at least 2,309 were killed, and November 2006, when at least 2,250 were killed.

• BODIES FOUND: The number of bodies found — usually attributed to sectarian death squads — dipped slightly in February 2007, immediately after the Baghdad security crackdown began Feb. 14, but has been steadily increasing in recent weeks. Since April 1, almost 1,900 bodies have been found across Iraq. At least 1,157 of these were found inside Baghdad, and 742 outside the capital.

• SECURITY PERSONNEL: The reported deaths each month for Iraqi security personnel, including soldiers and police, are creeping back up to surpass pre-crackdown levels after a relative low of 90 in January 2007. In May 2007, at least 237 security personnel have been reported killed, which is the most in any month since 275 were reported killed during July 2005.

• OUTSIDE BAGHDAD: Violent deaths outside Baghdad are also on the rise. In January 2007 there were at least 458 killed outside the capital, and there have been at least 952 deaths outside Baghdad during May 2007 — more than double the January tally.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070531/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_deadly_month_glance