Posted on 07/31/2008 1:40:59 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
BAGHDAD, July 30 (Reuters) - The number of U.S. soldiers killed in combat in Iraq has dropped sharply in July and the monthly total is likely to be the lowest since the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2003.
Five U.S. soldiers have been killed in combat in Iraq so far in July compared to 66 in the same month last year, according to the independent website icasualties.org, which keeps records of U.S. military losses in the conflict.
The drop underscores the dramatic fall in violence in Iraq to lows not seen since early 2004.
Seeking to build on those gains, tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and police launched a major operation against Sunni Islamist al Qaeda in northeastern Diyala province on Tuesday.
Al Qaeda has sought to stoke tensions in Diyala, its only haven close to Baghdad. A Reuters witness said forces had deployed throughout the provincial capital Baquba.
Security forces imposed a vehicle curfew and searched homes for weapons and wanted militants. Most shops were closed.
The U.S. combat death toll in July is down from 23 in June and 15 in May, the icasualties.org data showed.
The fall comes as Iraqi forces have taken the lead in major security operations. The U.S. military this month also withdrew the last of five extra combat brigades that were sent to Iraq last year to drag the country back from civil war.
Deployment of the additional U.S. troops last year, a decision by Sunni Arab tribal leaders to turn against al Qaeda and a ceasefire imposed by Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on his Mehdi Army are all factors credited with the reduced violence.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
When I arrived. When it was pretty quiet.
And now, it's pretty quiet again.
Have we gone full circle? I hope so.
There seems to be no urgency in blowing us up now, as we’ll likely be out of their hair soon anyway.
This is awful...isn’t there something that can be done? Call Pelosi now, call Murtha...we CAN change this...
For whom?
I remember you sent me a FReepmail about a year ago with a lot of questions about how I saw the situation here. I was courteous enough to take the time to send a detailed reply.
I never received a reply back, not even so much as a "thank you."
That pretty much told me where you stand on all of this.
But. but isn’t there still time to surrender to al Qaeda??? We need hope! We need change! We need to become a bunch of surrender monkeys to terrorist thugs.
For those who want us out of their land, whether Iraqis or foreigners who claim it as Islamic land.
After all, we're going to be leaving...the focus now can be on the Iraqi forces.
I was courteous enough to take the time to send a detailed reply.
I distinctly recall composing a thank you to you, with a request that we pick up the conversation again in the future. If you didn't receive it, then I apologize, as I do appreciate the time you put into your reply, and I have been known to close windows before hitting send.
That pretty much told me where you stand on all of this.
Where I stand on all of this is pro-America.
And now, I must sign off and catch an hour of sleep before going back on duty...it's 5:15 am here.
Be safe and well.
Ah, Reuters. Always mixing a poisonous lie into every story.
Good to hear it.
Thanks for all your updates. Please continue to stay safe!
This is such good news. I’m sure the MSM will report it in a continuous loop...not.
Stay safe.
The war is over, America and Iraq won, AQ and the DNC lost.
Pray for W and Our Troops
bttt
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