BAGHDAD, Oct. 1, 2007
Death Toll In Iraq Lowest Since July 2006
Deaths Among U.S. Forces And Iraqi Civilians Fell Dramatically In September
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A total of 64 American forces died in September. Iraqi civilian deaths fell from 1,975 in August to at least 988 last month, a decline of 50 percent, according to an AP tally. (AP Photo/Ed Betz)
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An Iraqi police officer guards two detainees who had been arrested when they were trying to launch a Katusha rocket against Kirkuk airport about 180 miles north of Baghdad on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007. (AP Photo)
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Interactive American Heroes Profiles of U.S. soldiers who've died in Iraq, a look at the war's toll and pictures of mourning.
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Interactive Battle For Iraq The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.
The decline signaled a U.S. success in bringing down violence in Baghdad and surrounding regions since Washington completed its infusion of 30,000 more troops on June 15.
A total of 64 American forces died in September -- the lowest monthly toll since July 2006.
The decline in Iraqi civilian deaths was even more dramatic, falling from 1,975 in August to at least 988 last month, a decline of 50 percent, according to an AP tally. The civilian death toll has not been so low since June 2006, when 847 Iraqis died.
The AP count includes civilians, government officials and police and security forces, and is considered a minimum based on AP reporting. The actual number is likely higher, as many killings go unreported.
In a joint statement, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and U.S. Commander Gen. David Petraeus commended Iraqi's security forces and its citizens for the decrease in violence.
"We are confident that you and your fellow citizens will continue to display determination, that Iraqi Security Forces will remain vigilant and that additional Iraqis will join our combined effort," said the statement released Monday.
The good news was tempered by violence: On Monday, a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives just outside the gates of Mosul University, killing an agriculture professor, said police spokesman Abdul Karim al-Jbouri said.
Less than an hour later, police found a second bomb in an empty car nearby and safely detonated it.
In other developments:
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If you ever want this War to End Vote Ron Paul 2008, No OneElse Is Going To End It!
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues - Reply to this comment
- What is the pattern since the US went on the offensive in Diyala and elsewhere in late April or early May? US casualties by month: May 121; June 98; July 75; August 77; September 66. Watch these figures until the end of 2007 and you''ll be able to predict the speed of the withdrawal.
Political progress is occurring only in towns and provinces, not at the national level. The US misunderstood the degree of control Baghdad had/has over the rest of the country, because it assumed that Saddam represented the norm. His control was an exception maintained by a one-party (Baathist) dictatorship and by his Republican Guards. The national government may never be anything but shaky for the next couple of decades. Only my opinions, of course. - Reply to this comment
- "...that it would escalate attacks during the Muslim holy month and target tribal leaders who were cooperating with security forces."
Posted by s1ckd09
Since they haven''t made good, let me explain something you obviously are unaware of.
The faithful observe Ramadan by not eating, drinking, or engaging in physical pleasure activities from sunrise to sunset. For a people who usually love to eat, usually four or five times a day, it is a radical drop in fuel intake, and they don''t waste unnecessary energy.
All activity, save religious activities is severely reduced during the month, anyone flouting these cultural norms is regarded as munafiq, (hypocritical) and are generally shunned. This is why people who are active during the holy month are usually outsiders, and given that Al Qaeda is a known CIA construct, it isn''t surprising that they would attempt to defame the holy month, and provide further excuse for Bush to continue his crimes against humanity.
Besides, even if there are tribal "leaders" selling out their people, they deserve the treatment given to traitors. Pre Bush, we used to do the same... - Reply to this comment
- Are you serious? Are you really willing to work THAT hard to turn this into bad news? The population of Iraq in 2007 is recorded to be 27,499,638. I would say that proves some people are still there...
Posted by s1ckd09 at 03:51 AM : Oct 02, 2007,,,
Are you serious? Anyone who could afford to leave Iraq did leave! Even the Iraqi Government itself left for a 5 week vacation! Do you really believe if anyone could afford to leave Iraq even until things calm down would still be there? Seriously? - Reply to this comment
Hey, you may be right, I can take it as well as give it! But the real reason for the decline may also be because most of the Iraqi''''s are already dead, already blown up! Is there anybody left to kill? Those who could leave Iraq have left. I always said there is no way they could have an endless supply of suicide bombers! The main point is the decline is not related to any peace initiatives, just luck and a lack of targets!
Posted by tbweb at 03:37 AM : Oct 02, 2007
Are you serious? Are you really willing to work THAT hard to turn this into bad news? The population of Iraq in 2007 is recorded to be 27,499,638. I would say that proves some people are still there...- Reply to this comment
- Ahhh, another idiot that doesn''''t read or know his history. Ramadan has always been blamed for a spike in violence, not a lull. Better put some more time in reading.
Posted by s1ckd09 at 03:06 AM : Oct 02, 2007,,,
Hey, you may be right, I can take it as well as give it! But the real reason for the decline may also be because most of the Iraqi''s are already dead, already blown up! Is there anybody left to kill? Those who could leave Iraq have left. I always said there is no way they could have an endless supply of suicide bombers! The main point is the decline is not related to any peace initiatives, just luck and a lack of targets! - Reply to this comment
- There is a saying that only the dead know the truth about war. Send this link to all the politicians who support this war as a an e-mail from beyond the grave.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/General/JohnnyGotHisGun.html - Reply to this comment
- Not considering Ramadan as a key factor in the drop in the U.S. death toll is why no one trust what the Bush administration has to say about Iraq. Ramadan is clearly the reason why! No one in the Government puts more time into whats going on than we do, BLOGS rule! We just need to sort through the garbage at times, but this is the pulse of whats going on in Iraq, right here! We put the time and energy in, they do not!
Posted by tbweb at 01:18 AM : Oct 02, 2007
Ahhh, another idiot that doesn''t read or know his history. Ramadan has always been blamed for a spike in violence, not a lull. Better put some more time in reading. - Reply to this comment
- Bull. The decline is a result of the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset, and thus all activity slows down, and also cooked numbers from a corrupt Bush administration that "doesn''''t count the dead Iraqis".
Posted by brianbwb at 01:10 AM : Oct 02, 2007
LOL... Way to show your ignorance. Ramadan has always shown a spike in violence, not a decrease in violence. This just goes to show that some of you people just ignore the facts when they doen''t fit your opinion.
"The drop in civilian violence came despite a warning by al Qaeda at the start of Ramadan, more than two weeks ago, that it would escalate attacks during the Muslim holy month and target tribal leaders who were cooperating with security forces." - Reply to this comment
- Not considering Ramadan as a key factor in the drop in the U.S. death toll is why no one trust what the Bush administration has to say about Iraq. Ramadan is clearly the reason why! No one in the Government puts more time into whats going on than we do, BLOGS rule! We just need to sort through the garbage at times, but this is the pulse of whats going on in Iraq, right here! We put the time and energy in, they do not!
- Reply to this comment
- "The decline signaled a U.S. success in bringing down violence in Baghdad and surrounding regions since Washington completed its infusion of 30,000 more troops on June 15."
Bull. The decline is a result of the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset, and thus all activity slows down, and also cooked numbers from a corrupt Bush administration that "doesn''t count the dead Iraqis". - Reply to this comment
- Only 64 dead last month!
Heckuva job, Bush!
Looks like we finally turned the corner! And you can get back to planning Jenna''s upcoming wedding extravaganza!
Perhaps we can line the 64 hearses outside the church to greet the happy bride and her proud dad!
LOL - Reply to this comment
- LIBERAL = TERRORIST APOLOGIST
- Reply to this comment
- A lull before the storm? How long will Sadr hold back?
- Reply to this comment
- LIBERAL = INVESTED IN DEFEAT
- Reply to this comment
- Deaths among American forces and Iraqi civilians fell dramatically last month to their lowest levels in more than a year, according to figures compiled by the U.S. military, the Iraqi government and The Associated Press.
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And what is the population of Iraq now compared to a year ago ??
Any census takers out there ?? - Reply to this comment
- screen_ident,,,, Iraq is safer, you can shop all over Baghdad ---- Now you can enlist without fear of being shot at, except by the 70% of our troops who don''t agree with you.
- Reply to this comment
- LIBERAL = SURRENDER MONKEY
Posted by screen_ident at 10:51 PM : Oct 01, 2007
Conservative = American soldier murderer - Reply to this comment
- LIBERAL = SURRENDER MONKEY
- Reply to this comment
- Sarcasm. Sarcasm.
Of course the military vastly does not support a mission without end. And the numbers similarly up and down the command line.
That is why Bush had to fire a number of generals who could not stomach his short sighted strategy. He had to find some yes men or some of the minority that believe in him. - Reply to this comment
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
