The October 2006 spike in US casualties is being portrayed in the media as a watershed event, but these data lack context. US casualties (killed and wounded) in Iraq have been declining each year since 2004. In 2004, there were 848 deaths ( 719 from hostile fire) and 7998 wounded; in 2005, 846 deaths ( 676 from hostile fire) and 5943 wounded. As of October 22, 2006, there have been 611 deaths ( 523 from hostile fire) and 4338 wounded thru September.
It is also worth noting that to date, 5,582 Iraqi military and police personnel have died defending their country, i.e., about twice as many as American military personnel. Iraqis are fighting and dying for their country and also deserve our support and recognition of their sacrifice.
That's a keeper, thanks. The October 2006 spike is 100% intended to influence our elections, I'm convinced. They know that if they can damage Bush's support and get the Dhimmicrats some power they'll criple the war effort and even be in a position to get us to run away. Every time a bomb goes off the Jihadis see the DBM and Dhimmicrats react in exactly the way they want them to. It's Pavlovian and it is exactly what Osama predicted would happen.
Here's a portion of a blog post from David Drake quoting Osama from an interview shown on CNN in October of 2001.
BIN LADEN: We believe that the defeat of America is possible, with the help of God, and is even easier for us, God permitting, than the defeat of the Soviet Union was before.
Q: How can you explain that?BIN LADEN: We experienced the Americans through our brothers who went into combat against them in Somalia, for example. We found they had no power worthy of mention. There was a huge aura over America -- the United States -- that terrified people even before they entered combat. Our brothers who were here in Afghanistan tested them, and together with some of the mujahedeen in Somalia, God granted them victory. America exited dragging its tails in failure, defeat, and ruin, caring for nothing.
America left faster than anyone expected. It forgot all that tremendous media fanfare about the new world order, that it is the master of that order, and that it does whatever it wants. It forgot all of these propositions, gathered up its army, and withdrew in defeat, thanks be to God.
bump