A Grim Milestone In Iraq

The death of five more soldiers in Iraq on Monday made 2007 the deadliest year for the U.S. military since the war began, according to the Associated Press.

At least 852 military personnel have died so far this year, according to a tally by AP. But those numbers show a sharp drop in fatalities since August. Thirty-nine U.S. military personnel died in October, down from 65 in September and 84 in August.

A military spokesman acknowledged over the weekend that the Pentagon's so-called troop "surge" was partially responsible for the high death toll. Thirty thousand additional troops were deployed to Iraq over the summer, as the military increased its presence outside the heavily fortified bunkers where they have spent much of the war.

"It's due to the troop surge, which allowed us to go into areas that were previously safe havens for insurgents," Maj. Winfield Danielson told the Associated Press over the weekend. "Having more soldiers, and having them out in the communities, certainly contributes to our casualties."

Anti-war groups seized on the grim milestone as another reason to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

“Americans have been demanding a responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq, but President Bush and his allies in Congress blocked efforts to end the war every step of the way," said Moira Mack of Americans Against Escalation in Iraq. "The ramifications of the so-called ‘surge’ policy are clear and the public will not look fondly on those leaders who backed Bush’s policy over their own constituents’ demands for an end to the war.”