Why have there been fewer casualties in Iraq the last couple of weeks ?

[kentuck]

Is it because we getting control of the situation? Is it because we are capturing or killing most of the leftover Saddam "loyalists"? Is it because the Iraqi people are starting to accept the American occupation as a good thing for their country?

Or is it because the casualty figures were starting to become a political liabilitiy for the Bush Brigade? Has there been a concerted effort to withdraw some of the forces from the combat areas to prevent likely attacks? (We did read about such a withdrawal from the Shiite areas) Has this happened around the Baghdad area also?

It is a good thing that GIs are not dying. However, is it because of acceptance by the people or is it because of withdrawal of our troops? But that is a question that will need to be asked of the military commanders around Baghdad.

[AntiSmirk]

1. I'd say dumb luck

There doesn't ssem to have been a decrease in the number of attacks, just that fewer of our guys are actually being killed in those atttacks lately.

[rooboy]

2. Ever since GeeDubya said "bring it on"...

the Iraqis have been scared to death of fighting the US military. The US president is a "Warrior for God" whose words strike fear in all who oppose him. His mere presence gives strength to the weak.

[CWebster]

3. Just moved off the front page.

*

[democrat in Tallahassee]

4. I'd say they aren't being reported; they are probably flying the.

badly wounded out of the country to die somewhere else so they don't have to be reported as "dying in Iraq."

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. One was killed this morning.

It is up in LBN.

[Chef]

6. Passification II

If we withdraw from the hostile areas and form enclaves of passification, hamlets if you will, then we can win the peace in Iraq and reduce the body count. I heard of this being used somewheres else, but it was a long time ago. Maybe in southeast Asia somewhere.

[CoffeePlease1947]

7. You spoke to soon. UN building just bombed in Iraq!

Turn on your television.

Mike

[Booberdawg]

8. Not getting reported

We're just probably not hearing about it.

[ewagner]

9. Remember the old Dr Joke

Patient: Doctor, it hurts when I do THIS!

Doctor: Then don't do THAT!

That's pretty much what's going on. US troops are staying out of the most hostile neighborhoods and patrols in other sections of Baghdad have been limited or stopped altogether.

The wisdom here is questionable. True enough it reduces casualties but is it letting the opposition fester to come back and bite us later?

What do you think?

[whatelseisnew]

10. It is Enron/Arthur Anderson Casualty Accounting

they are lying

they have been exposed over and over again

how many lies have not been exposed ? I guess more than half

[papau]

11. Exposed -by Brits -Palast - not US media - run w/o "legs" in US media

Our media sold it soul some time ago to get into bed with Newt and DeLay and thereby have "good contacts" -

ABC is making a comeback in the last few weeks - and CBS has started - and stopped - and started - again on the road to real journalism

NBC is a lost cause.

[JCMach1]

12. Shifting strategy-- now going after soft targets

see LBN

[Kbowe]

13. Who says they are down? Reports of at least one a day.

Maybe our media just is not reporting what other media is reporting.