The BBC is reporting that the US has already experienced the highest annual death toll of the war so far in 2007. And there are still two months left to run. Claims continue to be made about a reduction in attacks associated with the 'surge'. However, such previous assertions looked very shaky when an objective assessment of the data was made. We plan to repeat that analysis at the end of the year to try and gauge the real impact of the US strategy.
"The death of six US troops this week has made 2007 the most deadly year for US forces in Iraq.
Five US soldiers and one sailor were killed in three separate incidents, bringing the number of deaths in 2007 to over 850. With almost two months to go, US losses have already surpassed those of 2004 - previously the worst year...
Five US soldiers were killed on Monday in two separate roadside bomb attacks, in Kirkuk and Anbar provinces. A US sailor also died on Monday from injuries sustained in an explosion in Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad."
