Posted on 06/01/2008 9:03:26 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
US military deaths in Iraq are said to have fallen to their lowest monthly level for four years, after about 20 soldiers were reported killed in May.
The figures for Iraqi civilian deaths vary according to different sources, but have also dropped.
Most accounts put them at about 530 - or about half the levels seen in March and April.
Meanwhile, Australia has begun withdrawing its contingent of about 500 combat troops from Iraq.
The pullout honours a pledge made by the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, when he was elected last November.
The Australian troops had been mainly playing what they call an "overwatch" role, assisting Iraqi forces.
Troop 'surge'
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says one reason for the reduction in US military deaths was the ceasefire in early May, which stopped fighting in the Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital.
Iraqi and American troops had been engaged in an offensive there against Shia militiamen of the Mehdi Army, loyal to the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
But our correspondent adds that the overall trend of the violence since late last summer has been downwards.
He says the US troop "surge" was clearly a big factor, as was the trend within the Sunni community to turn against al-Qaeda and other Islamic militant groups.
The withdrawal of the additional US troops brought in last year for the surge is expected to be completed by July.
It must really be frustrating to Earwax Rudd that the war was practically won before he could start withdrawing, thereby denying him the Holy Grail of lefty politics: The right to claim the defeat for one’s own military.
What war is this? Iraq?
The media hasn’t covered that in quite awhile..
doesn’t fit their agenda.
They’re on an Obama surge.
I couldn’t believe the ABC lies,spin on the hour posing as news yesterday.
The babe mentioned this fact and then went into a BDS dialogue about the total deaths. My wife made a mercy intervention and shut the radio off in my suv.
Why doesn’t this qualify for Breaking News? We need to spread the good news as much as possible and that Iraq is not a lost cause like the liberals would have us think!
Bush’s fault.
Total deaths are worth being reminded about sometimes don’t you think ? Forgetting (or wanting to forget) about the fallen sounds to me like kinda belittling the ultimate sacrifice they’ve undertaken. I’m sure that’s not what you mean to imply.
In my village, all the local soldiers who died in the Great War of 1914-1918 are still individually named on Remembrance Sunday. That’s as it should be.
Now, the important question is, when’s the Iraq War going to end ? Or has it already, and we’re in the “nation building” phase (that Cheney said the US didn’t do) ?
Sigh.
But it’s 100% great news on the death rate slowing - Petraus has done a great job over there - shame someone who has a clue about asymmetric warfare and counterinsurgency techniques took over 3 yrs too late.
“Total deaths are worth being reminded about sometimes don’t you think ? Forgetting (or wanting to forget) about the fallen sounds to me like kinda belittling the ultimate sacrifice they’ve undertaken. I’m sure that’s not what you mean to imply.”
Absolutely when those deaths aren’t used as a vile political hatchet job by the MSM.
Our little church with about 200 families for over a year has had at least 12 plus family members of those 200 families in Iraq, Afghanistan or in the Navy/Coast guard in that area. The number of candles and for weekly prayers are limited to direct family members, husbands, wifes, sons, daughters, grandkids, nephews and nieces. We pray for these members to come home safely. If one falls, the last thing we want is for the MSM or Obama to use their deaths as a political hit job tool.
US Iraq deaths ‘at four-year low’....
the lib/dems are so sad...that the US is not losing the War and soldiers...that the lib/dems lie and say they support!!!!
By the time we're finished fighting this war, we'll have to get ready for the next war. The problem is that Generals always prepare to fight the last war. (I.E., the Mexican War was nothing like the American Civil War)
“always prepare to fight the last war.”
LOL - you got that right, MR !!
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