I was going to say - it’s a pretty shocking tally but the article makes no supposition as to WHY this has been the case.
Your point: “That is what happens when you change the rules of engagement.”
Makes perfect sense to me. Especially after reading all the books I have this summer on these topics. I wonder what else it could be though?
Reduction in troops - i.e. therefore more vulnerability?
Renewed vigor from the Rags, since they know we’re leaving?
All of the above?
It would be interesting to see the causes (IED, ambush, mortar fire, internal attack, etc) in a model that compares the before and after the changes to the rules of engagement.