U.S. Death Toll in Iraq Ties Record (135 in Nov.) [View All]

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041130/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_iraq&cid=540&ncid=1480

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At least 135 U.S. troops died in November. That is the same number as last April, when the insurgence flared in Fallujah and elsewhere in the so-called Sunni Triangle where U.S. forces and their Iraqi allies lost a large measure of control.


On Nov. 8, U.S. forces launched an offensive to retake Fallujah, and they have engaged in tough fighting in other cities since then. More than 50 U.S. troops have been killed in Fallujah since then, although the Pentagon (news - web sites) has not provided a casualty count for Fallujah for more than a week.


From the viewpoint of the United States and Iraqis who are striving to restore stability, the casualty trend since the interim Iraqi government was put in power June 28 has been troubling. Each month's death toll has been higher than the last, with the single exception of October, when it was 63.


The monthly totals grew from 42 in June to 54 in July to 65 in August and to 80 in September.