The death rate for Americans in Iraq (population 22 million) is less, even now, than in the District of Columbia (population .9 million). All deaths of American soldiers are tragic. But in the context of the history of wars, this is the least bloody war we have ever fought.
The Democrat tactic is, obviously, to wave the bloody shirt. It is historically dishonest, but it's all they've got. Read the history of American occupation of Germany, as I have. The sabotage, attacks on soldiers, and assassinations of local officials trying to rebuild Germany after the war all tapered to nearly zero in the second year of occupation. I expect much the same in Iraq.
So, the war will disappear as a Rat issue next year, just as the economy has disappeared as a Rat issue today. History provides a lot of answers. Democrats and their allies in the press are repeatedly being surprised when things play out as history predicts, because they are so blindly ignorant of such matters.
John / Billybob