Posted on 12/08/2004 12:59:34 AM PST by weegee
Iraqi criticizes neighbors for not keeping rebels out
Another soldier killed, bringing U.S. toll nearer 1,000
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BAGHDAD, IRAQ - A top Iraqi official accused the country's neighbors Tuesday of doing too little to stop foreigners from joining the brutal insurgency, while the U.S. combat death toll neared 1,000 with the killing of an American soldier in Baghdad.
In a speech to the Iraqi National Council, the deputy prime minister, Barham Saleh, said he was losing patience with Iraq's neighbors. He didn't single out any governments, but noted that Iraqi police had arrested a Syrian driving a car bomb packed with artillery shells and other explosives.
"There is evidence indicating that some groups in some neighboring countries are playing a direct role in the killing of the Iraqi people and such a thing is not acceptable to us," Saleh said.
Iraqi leaders have repeatedly called on their neighbors — particularly Syria and Iran — to guard their borders more closely against infiltration. Those countries have expressed concern that instability in Iraq poses a threat to the entire region.
U.S. soldiers, meanwhile, arrested several people described as suspected senior "transnational terrorists" in a raid Monday night on a sports complex in Baghdad, the military said Tuesday. It did not identify the suspects or say where they were from.
"This operation put a serious dent in the transnational terrorism in Baghdad," Col. Robert Abrams, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, was quoted as saying in a military statement.
The American soldier slain Tuesday was gunned down by small-arms fire while on patrol in Baghdad. As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Pentagon Web site listed the number of combat deaths as 999; it was not clear if the soldier was included.
The military also announced a Marine died in a vehicle accident in western Baghdad. The two deaths brought the number of U.S. military who have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003 to 1,278, including noncombat deaths, according to an Associated Press tally.
Another soldier killed, bringing U.S. toll nearer 1,000
What is going on?This is the 2nd time tonight,that I have read an article that stated the U.S. toll is at or nearing 1000? The first was at Yahoo.
Combat deaths. The pre-election 1,000 was "all deaths".
They've been pushing for a high number but then you knew that. The number is compiled by antiwar protestors, not the government.
Goebbel's big lie in action.
The military also announced a Marine died in a vehicle accident in western Baghdad. The two deaths brought the number of U.S. military who have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003 to 1,278, including noncombat deaths, according to an Associated Press tally.
I think that explains the figure.
I'd be interested in seeing the full AP list. One of the lists I saw included the death of a woman who served in Iraq and was hit crossing a highway in Kansas while on leave. Bush's fault? Bush lied, people died? BS.
The media feed on each other.
Red6
That sounds about accurate. 1/3 our casualties are accidents of some sort. Vehicular, crushing, split rims on run flats, lots and lots of simple accidents. We have those in the US and everywhere else too. Something like 45,000 (I think that’s about right) will die from automotive accidents in the US this year. But the story is so much less impressive if the media puts it in context. We have about 1000 dead after 2 years of combat operations. While there are highs and lows in activity, over the long haul the tendency has been a DECLINE. Yet the critical CIA article consumes CNN and other media. It really is that simple, bad news sells. The media has a liberal bias and this topic is very sensational and politicized. Is a the story of the DOZENS of dead soldiers from accidents in the US/Europe/USARPAC and elsewhere just in the last year newsworthy? It's got to be sensational, and 1300 (rounded up with accidents included) sounds better than 999 over two years, tendency declining. It's macabre.
Barbed wire around the entire country. Why are the foreign fighters being called insurgents? WHY!? They are not "rising up" they are coming in.
The Ten Costliest Battles of the Civil War
Based on total casualties (killed, wounded, missing, and captured)
#1
Battle of Gettysburg
Date: July 1-3, 1863
Location: Pennsylvania
Confederate Commander: Robert E. Lee
Union Commander: George G. Meade
Confederate Forces Engaged: 75,000
Union Forces Engaged: 82,289
Winner: Union
Casualties: 51,112 (23,049 Union and 28,063 Confederate)
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