42 American soldiers died in June, and 54 in July--What About Iraq?

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/06/opinion/06krugman.html?hp

August 6, 2004
OP-ED COLUMNIST
What About Iraq?
By PAUL KRUGMAN

A funny thing happened after the United States transferred sovereignty over Iraq. On the ground, things didn't change, except for the worse.

But as Matthew Yglesias of The American Prospect puts it, the cosmetic change in regime had the effect of "Afghanizing" the media coverage of Iraq.

He's referring to the way news coverage of Afghanistan dropped off sharply after the initial military defeat of the Taliban. A nation we had gone to war to liberate and had promised to secure and rebuild - a promise largely broken - once again became a small, faraway country of which we knew nothing.

Incredibly, the same thing happened to Iraq after June 28. Iraq stories moved to the inside pages of newspapers, and largely off TV screens. Many people got the impression that things had improved. Even journalists were taken in: a number of newspaper stories asserted that the rate of U.S. losses there fell after the handoff. (Actual figures: 42 American soldiers died in June, and 54 in July.)

<snip>

The military reality in Iraq is that there has been no letup in the insurgency, and large parts of the country seem to be effectively under the control of groups hostile to the U.S.-supported government. <snip>

[RobertSeattle]

1. White House Line: Iraq? Where's that? Never heard of it

Rove's put out the word: Keep Iraq off Page 1 and/or the first story in a newscast.

[reorg]

2. Yes, what about Iraq? The death toll:

just in the past two days:

Najaf toll: US claims 300, fighters say 36

Friday 06 August 2004, 21:00 Makka Time, 18:00 GMT

US marines have killed an estimated 300 Shia fighters in fierce clashes around the Iraqi city of Najaf in the past two days, a senior US officer has said.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/40B1A9EE-08BC-47C2-937D-2E48A5845B53.htm


And what about the civilians?

Iraqi group claims over 37,000 civilian toll
By Ahmed Janabi

Saturday 31 July 2004, 15:31 Makka Time, 12:31 GMT

An Iraqi political group says more than 37,000 Iraqi civilians were killed between the start of the US-led invasion in March 2003 and October 2003.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/66E32EAF-0E4E-4765-9339-594C323A777F.htm

[Foxman]

3. A History Question

I have a history question. I'd like to know the number of U.S. troops who died in combat AFTER victory was declared in WWI, in WWII, in the Koren War, and finally the Iraq War after Bush declared "victory"?