iCasualties.com is a website that reports on and visually depicts Coalition deaths as well as reported Iraqi military/police and civilian deaths. Though the death count for Iraqis is markedly lower than that controversial paper that was released and later attacked for being overboard, the site admits that it is an unfortunately incomplete list as it reports "reported" deaths and doesn't extrapolate non-reported deaths.
Still, it is reported to be a significantly accurate measure of coalition/contractor deaths and injuries.
Of note is the stark and sudden decrease in coalition military deaths since the surge began. Iraqi civilian deaths seems to have also decreased if to a smaller extent. In fact, Coalition military deaths were the lowest this month since the beginning. Hostile deaths are also WAY down.
shown here:
http://icasualties.org/oif/CasualtyTrends.aspx
http://icasualties.org/oif/HostileNonHostile.aspx
The site also has other statistics that are interesting. Browse at your leisure.
Also,
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080731124350.si8k6wlc&show_article=1
for commentary on the new report.
Still, it is reported to be a significantly accurate measure of coalition/contractor deaths and injuries.
Of note is the stark and sudden decrease in coalition military deaths since the surge began. Iraqi civilian deaths seems to have also decreased if to a smaller extent. In fact, Coalition military deaths were the lowest this month since the beginning. Hostile deaths are also WAY down.
shown here:
http://icasualties.org/oif/CasualtyTrends.aspx
http://icasualties.org/oif/HostileNonHostile.aspx
The site also has other statistics that are interesting. Browse at your leisure.
Also,
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080731124350.si8k6wlc&show_article=1
for commentary on the new report.
So when can we expect the troops to come home?
While the flak jacket provides good protection of the core of the body it does nothing for the extremities, so wounded who would have died in Vietnam now return with horrible disfigurement or loss of limbs. This is counted as injured or wounded but gives no indication of the extent of the problem.
Combat loss statistics also do not account for long term psychological damage incurred by those who return with PTSD, those who are diagnosed with PTSD and are treated internally now withing the military while on deployment.
All this information can be heard first hand from individuals who were deployed from http://www.videosift.com/video/The-Ground-Truth
Coalition deaths are down, but only because the military has now itself restructured it's approach towards dealing with the enemy via the hearts and mind program that was not in place as a directive from the beginning of the war. Several missteps by the CPA has actually meant the military had to deal with far more resistance then before. Let us also remember that combat loss statistics don't give us any bearing on the resistance or firefights faced by the military forces.
Am not surprised that civilian deaths are not counted, there is no system in place to do so, up until the Haditha incident US forces counted civilian causalities as collateral damage without thinking how its approach would lead to such deaths in the first place. Its only now that non-ROE engagement of civilians results in a full investigation, while this blankets anyone who engaged civilians with limited intelligence under a engage all ROE standing.
Limited deaths ultimately are not a victory. People still are dying.