thedrifter
07-29-08, 07:50 PM
Combat deaths in Iraq headed to new low
By Jim Michaels - USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Jul 29, 2008 12:12:26 EDT
U.S. combat deaths in Iraq appear headed to the lowest monthly level since the start of the war as the U.S. commanding general there said overall violence is declining toward normal levels.
According to The Associated Press, the U.S. military has reported nine troop deaths so far in July. But the official death toll for the month is 11. The figure includes the recovery of the bodies of two U.S. soldiers kidnapped last year.
The lowest prior number was eight in May 2003, according to USA Today figures.
There has been a sharp decrease in troop deaths this year. From January to July 2007, there were 655 U.S. military deaths. So far this year, there have been 219 deaths.
Army Gen. David Petraeus cautioned, however, that the progress could still be reversed. Suicide attacks Monday in Iraq killed more than 50 Iraqis.
“If you could reduce these sensational attacks further, I think you are almost approaching a level of normal or latent violence,” Petraeus said in a phone interview Monday from Iraq. “The fact that the levels of violence have come down so significantly and stayed down now for some two and a half months ... indicates there is a degree of durability,” Petraeus said.
The ability of U.S. and Iraqi forces to sustain low levels of violence is considered a key condition for allowing a further drawdown in American forces.
The last of five extra brigades sent to Iraq in 2007 left the country this month, bringing U.S. troop levels to about 140,000. Petraeus is expected to make a recommendation in late August or early September about future troop levels.
Asked if he might make the decision sooner, Petraeus said, “We’ll see.” He declined to elaborate.
Violence levels have continued to drop despite the departure of the extra brigades. The low levels have been maintained for more than two months.
Daily attacks during the past two months have averaged about 25 to 30, down from about 160 to 170 a little more than a year ago, Petraeus said.
“What we’ve got to do, of course, is figure out how to keep it there while over time further reducing our forces and ... trying to further degrade the networks that carry out the sensational attacks,” Petraeus said.
Iraqi security forces have been growing in numbers and effectiveness as threats from al-Qaida and Shiite militias have decreased, Petraeus said.
About 70 percent of Iraq’s combat battalions are leading operations in their areas.
“There is a degree of momentum across the board,” he said. “Certainly, there have been very tough days and tough reversals.”
Ellie
By Jim Michaels - USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Jul 29, 2008 12:12:26 EDT
U.S. combat deaths in Iraq appear headed to the lowest monthly level since the start of the war as the U.S. commanding general there said overall violence is declining toward normal levels.
According to The Associated Press, the U.S. military has reported nine troop deaths so far in July. But the official death toll for the month is 11. The figure includes the recovery of the bodies of two U.S. soldiers kidnapped last year.
The lowest prior number was eight in May 2003, according to USA Today figures.
There has been a sharp decrease in troop deaths this year. From January to July 2007, there were 655 U.S. military deaths. So far this year, there have been 219 deaths.
Army Gen. David Petraeus cautioned, however, that the progress could still be reversed. Suicide attacks Monday in Iraq killed more than 50 Iraqis.
“If you could reduce these sensational attacks further, I think you are almost approaching a level of normal or latent violence,” Petraeus said in a phone interview Monday from Iraq. “The fact that the levels of violence have come down so significantly and stayed down now for some two and a half months ... indicates there is a degree of durability,” Petraeus said.
The ability of U.S. and Iraqi forces to sustain low levels of violence is considered a key condition for allowing a further drawdown in American forces.
The last of five extra brigades sent to Iraq in 2007 left the country this month, bringing U.S. troop levels to about 140,000. Petraeus is expected to make a recommendation in late August or early September about future troop levels.
Asked if he might make the decision sooner, Petraeus said, “We’ll see.” He declined to elaborate.
Violence levels have continued to drop despite the departure of the extra brigades. The low levels have been maintained for more than two months.
Daily attacks during the past two months have averaged about 25 to 30, down from about 160 to 170 a little more than a year ago, Petraeus said.
“What we’ve got to do, of course, is figure out how to keep it there while over time further reducing our forces and ... trying to further degrade the networks that carry out the sensational attacks,” Petraeus said.
Iraqi security forces have been growing in numbers and effectiveness as threats from al-Qaida and Shiite militias have decreased, Petraeus said.
About 70 percent of Iraq’s combat battalions are leading operations in their areas.
“There is a degree of momentum across the board,” he said. “Certainly, there have been very tough days and tough reversals.”
Ellie