BAGHDAD, Dec. 26, 2006
U.S. Troop Deaths In Iraq Exceed 9/11 Toll
Military Announces Deaths Of 7 More GIs; 54 Iraqis Killed In Other Attacks
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Play CBS Video Video Iraq Troop Deaths Exceed 9/11 Six U.S. soldiers were killed this morning, with troop deaths now surpassing the Sept. 11 death toll. Randall Pinkston reports that improvised explosive devices seem to be the weapon of choice.
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Video Christmas At Camp Victory Only On The Web: At Camp Victory in Baghdad, about 15,000 U.S. troops are trying to enjoy Christmas, but as Randall Pinkston explains, they're always on the job.
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Video Celebrating In A War Zone Troops in Iraq try to stay festive in the midst of war. Many soldiers rely on memories of their families at home to get through the holidays. Randall Pinkston reports.
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A U.S. soldier from the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment looks on during an anti-American demonstration in Baghdad, Dec. 25, 2006. Soldiers went house to house searching for weapons, touching off a protest that forced them to cut the mission short in some parts of the city. (AP Photo/Dark Vojinovic)
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U.S. soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment carefully watch an anti-American demonstration in Baghdad, Dec. 25, 2006. (AP)
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A U.S. soldier from the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment looks on during an anti-American demonstration in Baghdad, Monday, Dec. 25, 2006. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
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In this picture provided by the British Army, soldiers stand in the remains of the Jameat police station in Basra, Dec. 25, 2006 which was destroyed in an explosion following a raid. (AP/British Army, Russ Nolan)
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U.S. soldiers get Christmas lunch at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Dec. 25, 2006. (AP)
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Interactive Iraq: A Turning Point? New Congress, change at the Pentagon, study group report; what does the future hold?
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Photo Essay Iraq In Pictures A daily diary with scenes of the latest attacks and snapshots from the effort to rebuild a nation.
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Interactive Attacks Map Details on the insurgency and terrorism that has continued to take lives since the fall of Saddam.
At least 54 Iraqis also died in bombings on Tuesday, officials said, including a coordinated strike that killed 25 in western Baghdad.
The three coordinated car bombs in western Baghdad injured at least 55 people, a doctor at Yarmouk hospital, where the victims were taken, said on condition of anonymity because of safety concerns. The attacks occurred in a mixed Sunni and Shiite neighborhood.
In other attacks, a car bomb exploded near a Sunni mosque in northern Baghdad at the beginning of the evening rush hour, killing 17 people and wounding 35, a doctor at Al-Nuaman hospital said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
A bomb also exploded in a central Baghdad market, killing four people and wounding 15, police said. Two roadside bombs targeted an Iraqi police patrol in an eastern neighborhood of the capital, killing four policemen and injuring 12 people.
In Kirkuk, 180 miles north of the Iraqi capital, a roadside bomb killed three civilians — including an 8-year-old girl — and wounded six other people, police said.
The tragic milestone for the U.S. military was reached with the deaths of seven soldiers Monday and Tuesday in bombings and other violence in the war-torn country.
Tuesday, a bomb killed three American soldiers and wounded one northwest of Baghdad.
"The patrol was conducting a route clearance mission when a roadside bomb exploded near them," the military said.
Two of the soldiers killed Monday were in their vehicle when a roadside bomb went off southwest of Baghdad, the military said.
"The joint patrol was conducting security operations in order to stop terrorists from placing roadside bombs in the area," it said in a statement on the latest deaths. "As they conducted their mission, a roadside bomb exploded near one of their vehicles."
In a separate incident, another soldier was killed in an explosion while on a foot patrol in the same area, a second statement said. Three soldiers were wounded in the incidents, the military said.
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks claimed 2,973 victims in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Opponents of President Bush have criticized him for raising the attacks as a justification for the protracted fight in Iraq.
Prior to the deaths announced Tuesday, the AP count was 15 higher than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Friday at 10 a.m. EST. At least 2,377 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston reports that December is already the second deadliest month of 2006 for U.S. forces in Iraq. The depressing question now, Pinkston says, is whether the final figure will exceed October's of 106.
In Washington, White House Deputy Press Secretary Scott Stanzel said Tuesday that Mr. Bush grieves for each member of the armed forces who has died.
"The war on terror is going to be a long struggle," he said. "We will be fighting violent jihadists for the peace and security of the civilized world for many years to come."
The figures came as American troops fought gunmen in a Shiite militia stronghold Tuesday in east Baghdad, according to witnesses. Fighters loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr were engaged in clashes with U.S. forces in and near Sadr City, an official in al- Sadr's office said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Snipers from both sides were deployed on rooftops and helicopters hovered overhead, he said. Explosions were heard throughout the area.
An Associated Press reporter in the area said U.S. troops exchanged fire with gunmen.
Another sobering statistic; Iraqi officials report that 12,000 national police officers have been killed since the invasion in 2003, says Pinkston
In other developments:
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- r_bayless,
first you missed the point. I give many arguements for and against everything I said. The idea of fighting in Iraq was an opinion not an arguement. After many years in the military, I would always prefer to fight on their ground not mine here in the U.S., but as you said they can come here anytime. The point was to let the military do there job. That means being the biggest and badest SOB around. I have listened to a political professor from Lebonnan who has interview many of the Hamas. One of the things he said was family is all important. He cited an example: Hamas took a Russian Journalist, within 24 hours the head of an uncle of one of the leaders was delivered with this message, If you want this to happen to your family keep our journalist or release him in 24 hours. He was back in Russian hands before six hours had elapsed. As an American we always play fair, but to fight this fight means not always being fair. If you look back prior to Iraq, the U.S. has never been found favorably in the muslim world. I just want the American people to shut-up, support the military and leave the idot politicans alone so the miltary can do their job. - Reply to this comment
- As I read comments from the many people I see 4 things.1. People support our troops. 2. People want us to leave Iraq. 3. Impeach the President.
4. Americans have forgotten what it takes to win.
As American's we have forgotten what it takes to win. We have become a society of getting our way and forget that to be successful takes time and hard work. When we allowed the military to do their job and not be hampered by politicians, media, or negative naysayers, we triumph in war. The Viet Nam war was a political one, we lost. The Gulf War was a military one, we won. The Iraq war should have been a military controlled operation not a political fiasco. How many people know soldiers themselves want more troops, and their hands untied to do their jobs. Soldiers and Marines are there, show support leave the politicians alone except to tell them to let the military do their job, even not being the nice guy. You fight terrorism on their ground and with the same destructive nature. Americans need to wake up and smell the coffe, I would rather fight on my enemy's ground than my own. Whether the reasons for Iraq were right or wrong, to sit back and be defensive only invites trouble. You want to get out of Iraq then let the military do their job. Remember soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen are the last who want any war, they have to fight it, but they will fight it to win, if we but let them and quit backstabbing our government, even with our problems, it is still the best in the world. - Reply to this comment
- Honor the Troops.
Honor them by Impeaching, then JAILING Bush and Cheney. This is the only way to bring justice to our fallen troops who sacrificed their lives serving our nation.
The American sheeple must wake up and learn to separate the noble and honorable service of our middleclass troops from the the sick and disgraceful actions of their chickhawk political leaders, who serve the super-wealthy and who sacrifice our troops in their imperial wars. Have we learned nothing at all from Vietnam? - Reply to this comment
- God Bless Our Troops and the fascist NeoCons who use them as cannon fodder for their needless, horrific imperial Wars for power and profit.
To always ask God to Bless only our troops, or only the 'USA'is an act of extreme self-centered hubris. It is an attempt to use and abuse God for political purposes. If you believe in one God, God is God of all creation. - Reply to this comment
- 3,000 fallen US troops. Add in the 600 dead contractors that no one ever hears about, and of course the hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis, and you are left with a George Bush whose actions have caused more death and destruction than Saddam and Osama combined.
Support Our Troops! JAIL BUSH and JAIL CHENEY for their WAR CRIMES.
Support Our Troops! Get them OUT of Iraq starting now. - Reply to this comment
- kenexch58 wrote:
"I see a lot of Bush bashing and no responsibility taken...God Bless our troops and shame on the Americans who discredit them!"
And shame on those who allowed our troops to be put into harms way in the first place. - Reply to this comment
- "Read Between the Lines"
Watch out for the aministration to tell you that the overall number of US troop casualties has fallen in 2006 compared to 2005. The total for 2005 was 846 and the number for this year will probably be less than 820. However, what the administration will not tell you is that the overall number of combat deaths (those due to hostile fire) has increased in 2006 compared to 2005.
Why is this significant? Because hostile casualties measure violence levels. Essentially, they are a key stability indicator. It is hard to suggest that things are getting better, if we are losing more troops to hostile fire. Like so much else in this war, it defies logic. In contrast, non-combat deaths (due to suicides, accidents and natural causes such as heart attacks)have decreased compared to 2005.
So there we have it. Three years into the war against these dead-enders, Saddam loyalists and remnants: insurgent attacks up, hostile troop casualties up, sectarian attacks up, confidence in the President's handling of the war down. Far from mission accomplished. - Reply to this comment
- The Bush Administration perpetrated the myth that we were in Iraq to stop further 9-11 attacks here in America which is I guess why some are comparing the numbers of those who died in Iraq to those died on 9-11.
The questions Americans need to ask themselves - how far are we willing to go down the road with Bush in charge of our participation in iraq - is middle America ready to allow their sons and daughters there? Can you make that sacrifice? If not then don't expect taht others will either - and from somewhere we need to find troops. - Reply to this comment
- MIKEKLEBER,,, My IRA is worth the same amount it was worth 7 years ago. I've invested more money in it,that's the only reason it's worth more. If I would of put the money in a bank it would be worth more today than my IRA in the past 7 years. My wife was smarter than me she rolled hers over to an interest bearing account.Hers went up 7%.
- Reply to this comment
- I see a lot of Bush bashing and no responsibility taken. We elect our reps. All of Congress has played a part in this situation. People need to focus on a resolution rather than complaining and doing nothing. No one has offered a solution. My nephew was bombed on Christmas day & wounded & fortunately lived. He watched 2 of friends die but still believes, as many of the soldiers do, that we are doing the right thing. God Bless our troops and shame on the Americans who discredit them!
- Reply to this comment
- gramto11
Where did they migrate into Egypt from?Is Egypt closer to other African countries or Europe.Don't forget, at that time migration from far distant places was not as easy as today. - Reply to this comment
- pat-9 wrote:
If we look at the BIBLE old testament,Jews are the descend of MOSES and MOSES was from EGYPT and EGYPT is in AFRICA.How come those LIGHT-SKINNED EUROPEANS who were brought into PALESTINE after WWII are those jews who have been called GOD-CHOSEN by BIBLE.If I or anybody else proves that the real jews are AFRICAN BLACKS,do you think any of those White people who've hijacked religions to fulfil the demand of their WHITE RACISM would accept that the WHITE PEOPLE
From Wikipedia:
According to Genesis 46:11, Amram's father Kohath immigrated to Egypt with 70 of Jacob's household, making Moses part of the second generation of Israelites born during their time in Egypt. - Reply to this comment
- Has anyone ever figured the net worth of Cheney or Bush since the start of this war?? I am certain both have more than tripled that value since the start of the war. I don't know about you, but I know my net worth hasn't increased that much. Does anyone else have an opinion????
- Reply to this comment
- Before Bush, Cheney, or Rice make any more decisions on troops in Iraq, this administration should have all of the families of dead soldiers gather in a large meeting place. Bush, Cheney, and Rice should then meet each and everyone of them personally to "thank them" for the lost life of their loved one. Then and only then should the stupid trio be allowed to send more troops to slaughter, that is if they make it out alive. Remember, ignorance can be overcome, stupidity is forever. God help us all.
- Reply to this comment
- Forget about democracy in Iraq! Since the day 911 took place every American was blindfolded with hatred and revenge against the terror. Many innocent men and women in WTC all died for the cause of someone. Thousands of Americans were murdered in WTC. And many more in Iraq. Do we all still beleive in hearing about the terror that we were told or we know very well about this terror after all these years? This does remind me of a word that we all are, just goats. It's war against our freedom and lives! Not really against terror..
- Reply to this comment
- My prayers go out to the families of all the US soldiers & innocent Iraqis killed in this useless, illegal war. There is no "War on Terror" folks; there is the "War of Terror" against the American people. This bloodbath is about oil, lucrative defense contracts, power & a type of greed that will never be satisfied.
Regarding 911: I'm not a conspiracy theorist & I believe the majority of people who are questioning the events of 911 aren't either. I firmly believe that Bush, Cheney & other individuals within the Bush adm. were involved in the events of 911. It was the catastrophic event ( Pearl Harbor) needed to "unite" the nation & justify the "War on Terror" & the eventual invasion of Iraq. FDR knew Pearl Harbor was going to be attacked & allowed it to happen in order to enrage & unite American citizens so that the US could enter WWII. The 911 Investigation should be re-opened. There are too many unanswered questions & too many individuals who need to be questioned. - Reply to this comment
- Here's what Barbara Bush thinks about the heroic sacrifices made by the brave troops:
"Why should we hear about body bags and deaths? Oh, I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"
I'm beginning to suspect that GW Bush shares the same opinion. - Reply to this comment
- taw3co wrote:
"Oh so I guess we should leave, and wait for more Americans to be killed by terrorists to even the score up before we do anything else to try and make the middle east safer. What a ridiculous headline!"
GW Bush is the person responsible for creating a situation where Americans are being killed by terrorists - and he did that by invading Iraq.
He should have been doing his job and using the troops to track down Bin Laden - which he has failed in doing.
And this is why Afghanistan is beginning to see a resurgence of the Taliban. - Reply to this comment
- patriotic9 wrote:
"It seems like BUSH feels the same way about the deaths of US troops like his mother .When so many people died in NEW ORLEANS as a result of Hurricane Katrina,Bush's mother had issued the statement about those poor people who lost their lives..."
She's the ugliest man I've ever seen. - Reply to this comment
- taw3co wrote:
"Oh so I guess we should leave, and wait for more Americans to be killed by terrorists to even the score up before we do anything else to try and make the middle east safer."
Prior to the Invasion of Iraq there was no support for terrorists nor Al Qaeda in Iraq.
But now, thanks to GW Bush, terrorism and Al Qaeda now have a strong foot hold in Iraq that is now becoming increasing difficult to beat.
And you can thank GW Bush for that. - Reply to this comment
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
