Iraq: 3 die as 'worst month' figures revealed (highest since March, 2003)

[rodeodance]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/17/iraq.main/index.html

Iraq: 3 die as 'worst month' figures revealed
July violence the deadliest since March 2003



BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A bomb ripped through a market in Baghdad's Sadr City on Thursday, another day of carnage in a city under siege by insurgents and people bent on sectarian revenge.

Three people were killed and 27 more were wounded when the explosive detonated in Rashaad market, located in the volatile, densely populated eastern Baghdad Shiite slum of Sadr City, a base of support for anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The strike, one of several across the country, was reported as the Iraqi Health Ministry released new figures that underscore the spike in warfare plaguing Iraq: July was the deadliest month for civilians since the war started in March 2003, figures show.

During the month, 3,438 Iraqis were killed -- 1,855 because of sectarian or political violence and another 1,583 from bombings and shootings. Nearly 3,600 Iraqis were wounded, the official said.

The release of these figures comes on the heels of a U.N. report that said nearly 6,000 people were killed in Iraq in May and June.

[louis-t]

1. Strange, some nut on C-SPAN this morning said troop deaths

were down and the liberal media wasn't reporting it. Republicans celebrate when LESS American troops are (still) dying.

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. The Caller's Right, Although It's Just Slightly

I believe it was 48 in July vs 51 in June, although the number of wounded has jumped.

[louis-t]

6. Ah yes, there it is folks: progress.

Also, the number of IEDs is up. Maybe the reason injuries are up.

[BigDDem]

2. Insurgents still in last throes.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Iraq is so FUBAR that we need to get our troops out immediately!

There is no point in keeping our troops in a country being torn by civil war and personal vendettas. Let's say publicly what Bush and his neocons won't say: the war is lost! Let's bring our troops home now, before we reach the 3,000 KIAs.

[DemoTex]

5. I think the numbers are understated.

I have seen it happen before. I think the Democratic president in 2009 will have to command a retreat-under-fire. Between now and then? A bloody meat-grinder that will join the famous meat-grinders of past wars.