Not only are the number of US casualties trending downward, but they are lower on a per capita basis given the larger US troop presence and also on a per-mission basis. We’re killing more bad guys, getting more help from the Iraqis themselves and the pacified areas of the country have expanded. That sounds a lot like “winning” to me.
They are not. A regression line of the data beginning in March 03 through July 07 shows a slope of .7525 and an R^2 value of .1871. With a sample population of over 30, these values are significant. Another item that could be addressed are the number of July casualties, although (as correctly stated) they are the lowest in 7 months (in three cases by 1 and in one case by 2) they are significantly higher than in any other July: 07 = 80, 06 = 43, 05 = 54, 04 = 54. 03 = 48; approximately 1.5 times the next highest July.
General Petarus do not have enough troops to get the job done. He needs at least 200,000 more troops if we want to completly pacify Iraq. Right now, all we are doing is making sure that the dam doesn't break but in the long term, it is not a feasible strategy.
General Petarus do not have enough troops to get the job done. He needs at least 200,000 more troops if we want to completly pacify Iraq. Right now, all we are doing is making sure that the dam doesn't break but in the long term, it is not a feasible strategy.