A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

As of Friday, March 5, 550 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq, according to the Department of Defense. Of those, 379 died as a result of hostile action and 171 died of non-hostile causes, the department said. The department did not provide an update Saturday.

The British military has reported 58 deaths; Italy, 17; Spain, eight; Bulgaria, five; Thailand, two; Denmark, Ukraine, Estonia and Poland have reported one each.

Since May 1, when President Bush declared that major combat operations in Iraq had ended, 412 U.S. soldiers have died - 264 as a result of hostile action and 148 of non-hostile causes, according to the military.

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http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/8124328.htm

Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the Eastern dews and damps;
I have read his doomful mission by the dim and flaring lamps --
His night is marching on.

I have read his bandit gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my pretensions, so with you my wrath shall deal;
Let the faithless son of Freedom crush the patriot with his heel;
Lo, Greed is marching on!"

We have legalized the strumpet and are guarding her retreat;*
Greed is seeking out commercial souls before his judgement seat;
O, be swift, ye clods, to answer him! be jubilant my feet!
Our god is marching on!

In a sordid slime harmonious Greed was born in yonder ditch,
With a longing in his bosom -- and for others' goods an itch.
As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich --
Our god is marching on.

(MT 1900)

[UpInArms]

1. I am so sorry for all of the lives that have been

lost, ruined and destroyed by the illegal actions of my government.

I am so sorry that our military has lost one soul for the BFEE and its empirial desires.

I am so sorry for every life that has been taken by this injustice.

:cry:

[reprobate]

2. Billy, that's a good one. I'm adding it to my George W. Bush songbook

[zorkpolitics]

3. Maybe its getting better?

In Feb "only" 23 soldiers died in Iraq, the lowest death rate since the war began. SO far only one death in Mar. Maybe the insurgents are now targeting Iraqi's?

[daleo]

4. I imagine coalition soldiers aren't getting around much these days

Probably sticking close to base, to keep the body count down as the election draws closer in the U.S. Of course, there is not much point being there, if they just try to stay out of trouble. Eventually, they will just focus on guarding the oil.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. There shouldn't be any insurgents targeting anyone in America's

march for greed.

It's a sad day whenever our country causes death in the name of acquisition.