No more troop deaths?

[BobRossi]

Is it just me or have the troops seemingly quit getting killed in Iraq? For over a week now there has been no mention in the MSM of any troop deaths.

Hopefully there has indeed been a decline in troops getting killed but the cynic in me says it is the MSM that has been instructed to report only "good news".

[wundermaus]

1. see this link for the stats -

http://icasualties.org/oif/

[eagler]

2. 3653 - monthly avg. down to 2.65 p/day from 4.23 in May

7-2007 74 7 1 82 (2.65) 31
6-2007 101 7 0 108 3.6 30
5-2007 126 3 2 131 (4.23) 31

[HappyWeasel]

3. yeah, but what does this mean.

Civilian deaths are way up, however. from 1345 to 1699.

[Breeze54]

4. It was stated ,on the news they're bombing more, instead...

Using more air support, instead of sending out patrols.

-----------------

Under the radar: Air Force ramps up in Iraq

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-07-14-iraqairsurge_N.htm

By Charles J. Hanley, Associated Press

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq —

Away from the headlines and debate over the "surge" in U.S. ground troops, the Air Force has quietly built up its hardware inside Iraq, sharply stepped up bombing and laid a foundation for a sustained air campaign in support of American and Iraqi forces.

Squadrons of attack planes have been added to the in-country fleet. The air reconnaissance arm has almost doubled since last year. The powerful B1-B bomber has been recalled to action over Iraq.

The escalation worries some about an increase in "collateral damage," casualties among Iraqi civilians. Air Force generals worry about wear and tear on aging aircraft. But ground commanders clearly like what they see.

"Night before last we had 14 strikes from B-1 bombers. Last night we had 18 strikes by B-1 bombers," Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch said approvingly of air support his 3rd Infantry Division received in a recent offensive south of Baghdad.

Statistics tell the story: Air Force and Navy aircraft dropped 437 bombs and missiles in Iraq in the first six months of 2007, a fivefold increase over the 86 used in the first half of 2006, and three times more than in the second half of 2006, according to Air Force data. In June, bombs dropped at a rate of more than five a day.

more...........

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. The death toll is down in July.

Here is a good link for keeping track:

http://icasualties.org/oif/

And from that link, the deaths for 2007:

Military Fatalities: By Month
Period US UK Other* Total Avg Days
7-2007 74 7 1 82 2.65 31
6-2007 101 7 0 108 3.6 30
5-2007 126 3 2 131 4.23 31
4-2007 104 12 1 117 3.9 30
3-2007 81 1 0 82 2.65 31
2-2007 81 3 1 85 3.04 28
1-2007 83 3 0 86 2.77 31

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. I wish that were the case

I've also noticed the trend to report happy news from Iraq instead of the violence that continues.