Three notable things
Deaths are way down in Iraq for two months running, first among US soldiers and second among Iraqis themselves. AP:
October is on course to record the second consecutive decline in U.S. military and Iraqi civilian deaths and Americans commanders say they know why: the U.S. troop increase and an Iraqi groundswell against al-Qaida and Shiite militia extremists…As of Tuesday, the Pentagon reported 28 U.S. military deaths in October. That’s an average of about 1.2 deaths a day. The toll on U.S troops hasn’t been this low since March 2006, when 31 soldiers died — an average of one death a day…The current pace of civilian deaths would put October at less than 900. The figure last month was 1,023 and for August, 1,956, according to figures compiled by The Associated Press.
The third notable thing is that the AP noticed, but not without qualification: “While U.S. death figures appear to be in sharp decline, the number of Iraqi civilians and security forces show a less dramatic drop. And any significant attack — by insurgents or civilians caught in the crossfire — could quickly wipe out the downward trend.” Gee, thanks.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
It’s almost like AP is hoping for a disaster
October 24th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
We’ll see. My prediction, fwiw, is that soon- no later than a month after the “surge” is declared a success, there will be a flurry of slaughter. Insurgents typically use times of government intense effort as rebuilding periods- laying low, reminding the wavering that they are still there, collecting money, and registering on the plentiful targets our increasingly careless soldiers will offer.
Or, in one word, Tet.
October 27th, 2007 at 2:15 am
Well, the “militants” have had that rousing speech by their Dear Leader to stir up their blood. All troops have morale problem now and then. I’m sure they’ll try a comeback soon. Problem is that they have lost their support among the population as the Iraqis tire of the bloodshed, and take notice that it is their fellow Muslims causing all the blood to shed.
October 28th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
And any significant attack — by insurgents or civilians caught in the crossfire — could quickly wipe out the downward trend.”
Translation: “C’mon terrorists… you need to suck it up and keep on killing!! We at the AP have always supported you in every way possible short of actually picking up a gun ourselves, so don’t let us down in the War on America now! How the hell are we going to demoralize the country if there aren’t enough dead soldiers that we can pull together at least a weekly feature on it?”
/s
I told my college-age daughters that I would pay the freight for any 4-year degree they chose except one – journalism. I told them I would not pay to inflict another journalist on society, and that if they wanted to be one, they should seriously consider a profession with proven higher ethics, such as used-car sales or payday loan collections. And I am absolutely serious.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:08 am
They’re bummed out like Colorado Rockies bettors