[Blood of Tyrants]

IMHO, it is Bush's desire to not raise the US body count any higher than it already is for this month. Tomorrow begins a new month and the casulty count is reset. Also, after the complete failure of the Iraqi army and civil defense, they had to be "culled" of cowards and infiltrators. The past few days softened the terrorists up. The next few will finish them off.

[oceanview]

most of our losses are coming from car bombs and IEDs against patrols and checkpoints. air power and snipers don't result in many casualties, neither do Abrams tanks.

there is some other factor at work here.