Home Mobile Archives Reader Blogs Register Login

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Military Deaths In Iraq Lowest In 14 Months

Politically bad news for the Democrats.

BAGHDAD (AFP) - - US military losses in Iraq for September stood at 70 on Sunday, the lowest monthly figure since July last year, according to an AFP tally based on Pentagon figures.

The figure also marks the fourth consecutive drop in the monthly death toll following a high of 121 in May. June saw 93 deaths, July 82 and August 79. The monthly toll in July 2006 was 53.

Two US soldiers were killed on Saturday in separate incidents, pushing the overall toll of American losses since the March 2003 invasion to 3,801.

What’s more probably the most significant part of this story is that troop deaths have gone down despite the deployment of 30,000 additional troops to the war zone.  Meaning that troop deaths have dropped, dramatically, not only as a percentage of the overall force deployment but also in raw numbers.

That’s an astounding accomplishment which should be credited to the planning and execution of General Petraeus and his staff.  Not that anyone on the left will be willing to acknowledge this or give the credit for it to “General Betrayus.”

Update: Of course, troop deaths aren’t the only measure of success in Iraq.  As Jon Henke notes:

...if [Iraq war] supporters are pointing to death/casualty statistics instead of concrete political progress that replaces the need for US troops, then the surge is not working.

Still, the death/casualty figures are heartening.  But ultimately the government in Iraq needs to find a way to lead before we can be successful in our mission.

Comments

Aren’t you grateful to the Democrats for forcing Bush to change his tactics in Iraq and their turning another Vietnam into a victory for the United States?

I’ll be that is how they’ll spin it!


No matter the age or state of health, for a military man it is always glorious to tilt at windmills, rescue a fair Dulcinea and be a gallant knight in armor in a glorious cause.

Neiman on September 30, 2007 at 10:27 am
Avatar for halatbis

The Dem’s candidates now say they can’t commit to getting the troops out by mid-2008 (before the election) because--get this--one can not foresee what things may happen in the middle-east. Ah yes, Monday morning quarterbacking is one thing--taking responsibility for one’s actions is a bit more sobering.

halatbis on September 30, 2007 at 10:45 am

I must have missed those headlines in the MSM. I’ll have to look again. They should be big and bold, don’t you think? Don’t know how I missed ‘em.


Election ‘08 - We Are So Screwed

Pilgrim on September 30, 2007 at 10:50 am

halatbis: I knew Hillary would hedge her bets on this one and move to the middle as quickly as she thought practical, and with the commanding leads she enjoyes in the polls for the nomination and the general election, she calculated this as being the right time.

You are of course right, it is much easier to carp about what Bush is doing as a candidate, but quite another matter when faced with the reality of making the decisions.

As time moves on, if good news keeps coming out of Iraq the Democrats will take all the credit; and with their currently charging the right with hating children regards the health coverage issue, they can beat up on the Republicans as being people without compassion for the children.


No matter the age or state of health, for a military man it is always glorious to tilt at windmills, rescue a fair Dulcinea and be a gallant knight in armor in a glorious cause.

Neiman on September 30, 2007 at 10:57 am
Avatar for Bill Mitchell

Wait, wait, I thought Hillary said Patraeus was lying?  When Patraeus said things were going better, didn’t she call him a liar?

Didn’t she?

Guess we will be hearing an apology any day now.  Guess the MSM will demand her apology on national network news?

You know, it really is amazing the things the Left gets away with when they have 100% cover from the MSM.

Truly amazing.

Bill Mitchell on September 30, 2007 at 11:36 am

Bill Mitchell: No Hillary did not directly say Petraeus was lying! She is far too clever a politician for that, she talked about the need to willing suspend disbelief about whatever he said; and please believe me that she is perfectly capable of spinning that into wholehearted, unconditional support for Petraeus and a majority of America will accept her definition, especially when every Democrat defends what she said.

The low numbers of military deaths in Iraq is not, in my opinion, bad news for the Democrats. They will be able to spin this that they put pressure on Bush to change his failed policies and to either develop a new plan or be forced out of Iraq; which actions by the Democrats caused Bush to pick a new commanding general and a new plan and thus the Democrats deserve full credit for the good news in Iraq.


No matter the age or state of health, for a military man it is always glorious to tilt at windmills, rescue a fair Dulcinea and be a gallant knight in armor in a glorious cause.

Neiman on September 30, 2007 at 11:44 am

The willing suspension of disbelief means the puposeful disdain for and neglect of the truth.

It’s simply a euphemism for:

“hey Petraeus, you’re a lyin’ bastard.”

Why the dismissive spin on Hillary’s accusation?


All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth. —Aristotle ...

Joel on September 30, 2007 at 12:26 pm

Joel: I absolutely know she was saying Petraeus was lying, I absolutely know what the willing suspension of disbelief means. I also know the Clinton’s and the Democrat Party and they will, if we continue on the path towards victory in Iraq, ‘spin” those clear words to mean something entirely different in her favor, even if and when faced with the clear definition; and if history is an accurate measuring rod - chances are very high they will succeed in getting a majority of Americans to either believe the spin or at least think Republicans are being mean to her because she is a woman and they are being self righteous.

When I said Bill was wrong and Hillary didn’t call Petraeus a liar, I was saying that she didn’t use those exact words and therefore she will try and spin them into meaning something entirely different. It all depends upon what the definition of is - is!

Please tell me why, considering she didn’t use the words ‘lying or liar’ I am wrong in believing she will spin her words into meaning something else and why the Democrats and the MSM will help her change the truth into a lie?


No matter the age or state of health, for a military man it is always glorious to tilt at windmills, rescue a fair Dulcinea and be a gallant knight in armor in a glorious cause.

Neiman on September 30, 2007 at 12:40 pm

Please tell me why, considering she didn’t use the words ‘lying or liar’ I am wrong in believing she will spin her words into meaning something else
Neiman

Huh?

Are you P.M.S.’ing again?


All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth. —Aristotle ...

Joel on September 30, 2007 at 12:51 pm

Joel” Let us not get into a giant misunderstanding. You said “It’s simply a euphemism for: “hey Petraeus, you’re a lyin’ bastard.” Why the dismissive spin on Hillary’s accusation?

You asked why I was dismissive of Hillary’s clear words. I wasn’t! I explained that she and the Democrats would passionately defend her by saying she did not call him a liar and I asked if you thought it was wrong to use that as an explanation of why I said she deliberately didn’t use the word liar.

Perhaps, I am getting tangled in my own words, but we don’t disagree about her calling Petraeus a liar, only that I believe she and the Democrats will be able to defend her because she didn’t use the actual words.


No matter the age or state of health, for a military man it is always glorious to tilt at windmills, rescue a fair Dulcinea and be a gallant knight in armor in a glorious cause.

Neiman on September 30, 2007 at 01:04 pm

Are you P.M.S.’ing again?

That wasn’t very nice, it was rude without cause and totally unnecessary!


No matter the age or state of health, for a military man it is always glorious to tilt at windmills, rescue a fair Dulcinea and be a gallant knight in armor in a glorious cause.

Neiman on September 30, 2007 at 01:12 pm

70 brave soldiers died because their country needlessly put them in harm’s way.

That’s bad news for their families. Try telling them that there were only 70 deaths. The headlines will make them feel better. “Only 70 Deaths”

ews48 on September 30, 2007 at 03:47 pm

70 brave soldiers died because their country needlessly put them in harm’s way.

Any facts/logic to back up your claim of “needlessly”?
Are you an expert in military strategy?  What are your credentials to make this claim?


"One must regard his leftist opponent as a parent regards his recalcitrant child. Don’t give an inch in a debate with a leftist, and you’ll soon frustrate him to the point that he falls back to his default position. He’ll gainsay your every point. He’ll even resort to calling you names and accusing you of having suspect parentage.”

robert108 on September 30, 2007 at 03:51 pm
Avatar for Bill Mitchell

Flash.  Being a soldier is a dangerous job.  People shoot at you.  It’s a volunteer army.

Bill Mitchell on September 30, 2007 at 05:02 pm

70 brave soldiers died because their country needlessly put them in harm’s way.

It was needless to rescue people from an insane, murderous dictator despite his violating multiple U.N. Resolutions, it was needless to help the poor Iraqi people to experience the fruits of liberty, it was needless to take away WMD’s that were aimed at Israel and were threatening to take over the Middle East (Remember Kuwaiit and bombs dropping inside Saudi Arabia?), it was needless to defend American interests in the Middle East, those interest vital to our infrastructure and freedom? If that is your idea of needless deaths, if you choose to denigrate the valor of our soldiers; then it is obvious you are a liberal girly man, a feel good exterme Left Wing, America hating liberal.

So, is that what you meant by needless deaths?


No matter the age or state of health, for a military man it is always glorious to tilt at windmills, rescue a fair Dulcinea and be a gallant knight in armor in a glorious cause.

Neiman on September 30, 2007 at 05:13 pm

Flash.  Being a soldier is a dangerous job.  People shoot at you.  It’s a volunteer army.

Exactly.

The insanely hilarious Spike Milligan, in his book, Hitler:My Part In His Downfall, complained to his sergeant that he didn’t like wearing the uniform because it wasn’t healthy.

When his incredulous sergeant asked just how wearing the uniform wasn’t healthy, Spike repled that every time the Germans see it they shoot at it.


Election ‘08 - We Are So Screwed

Pilgrim on September 30, 2007 at 05:13 pm
Page 1 of 1        

Post a Comment


Before commenting, please recite:

Grant me the serenity to ignore the trolls,
the courage to debate with honest opponents,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Name   
Email   
URL   
Human?
  
 

Upload Image    

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Note: Notifications will only be sent to confirmed email addresses.