Bombs now biggest killers of U.S. troops

[truthpusher]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002426744_casualties08.html?syndication=rss&source=seattletimes.xml&items=94

Bombs now biggest killers of U.S. troops
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By ROBERT H. REID And JIM KRANE
The Associated Press
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BAGHDAD, Iraq — Bombs like the titanic roadside blast that killed 14 Marines last week are becoming the biggest killers of U.S. troops in Iraq, surpassing bullets, rockets and mortars, as insurgents wage an unconventional war that has boosted the American death toll beyond 1,820.

(snip)

Since the end of May, more than 65 percent of U.S. military deaths in Iraq have resulted from insurgent bombings, compared with nearly 23 percent in conventional combat and 12 percent in accidents, according to figures compiled by The Associated Press.

In recent weeks, rebel bombs have been responsible for 70 to 80 percent of American soldiers killed or wounded, command spokesman Lt. Col. Steven Boylan said last week.

Of the 54 American troops who died in Iraq in July, 42 were killed either by roadside bombs, car bombs or, in one case, a land mine. As of yesterday, 30 soldiers and Marines have died this month — all but nine from bombs.

These figures document an evolution in rebel tactics. Looking back to the start of the U.S.-led war in March 2003, about 32 percent of American military deaths have been from improvised explosions, suicide bombs or other such blasts — compared with about 48 percent in firefights and other combat. About 19 percent died in accidents.

(snip)

complete story: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002426744_casualties08.html?syndication=rss&source=seattletimes.xml&items=94

[noamnety]

1. Article forgets a key point

all the explosives were there for the taking, because we left storage facilities unguarded. It came up during the campaign, and the media conveniently forgot about it.

[leftchick]

4. they always forget that minor detail

I am sure it is not lost on the US soldiers on the ground.

:(

[54anickel]

6. I thought for sure they'd point a finger at Iran/Syria for the "improved"

explosives, but they didn't for a change. Nice piece of reporting this time, aside from the key point you mentioned of course.

This "role reversal" is scary stuff. Our troops cannot adapt to this short of blowing they entire country out of existence. Very sad.

[frankieT]

2. "as insurgents wage an unconventional war"

WTF ? a static bomb planted on a roadside is unconventional ? its a fu****g anti-tank mine.

[rzemanfl]

3. George W. Bush is the biggest killer of U.S. troops, if they

weren't in Iraq, they wouldn't get blown up. This same moronic appointee/thief, through his ineptitude (and that's being generous) also is responsible for the deaths of thousands of office workers and airline passengers on 9/11. He then let their killer escape. Twice he has announced that he would give a "series" of speeches to explain himself, and twice he has produced a single verbal disaster and the "series" was shoved into the memory hole. People under his command sullied the reputation of the United States forever and he could not even pronounce the name of the place where it happened in three tries during a speech one would hope he rehearsed.

When the fuck are people going to wise up about this asshole?

[stanwyck]

5. What good do all our expensive

toys that absolutely nobody else has...the subs, the state of the art jets, the helicopters, do against dedicated terrorists who use whatever is at hand to maim or kill?
Yes, we have better stuff, and more of it, than any one. Great for invading.
But, then what?
Did any of the architects of this madness think about how we'd actually fight this "war"?

[Ice4Clark]

7. Given the use of Depleted Uranium in the Iraq invasion,

it will be interesting to see how many more will die in the years to come. In Gulf 1, over 11,000 have died who were deployed over there. Where's the outrage on that!

Also, as a result of the DU used in Gulf 1, more than 325,000 are on Permanent Medical Disability. Out of the 580,400 soldiers who served in Gulf 1, 56% of the soldiers who served have some form of permanent medical problem.

The disability rate for the wars of the last century was 5 percent; 10 percent, in Viet Nam.

So, we will have many less to continue to send overseas. I don't see how the W regime can possibly continue the quagmire in Iraq without a draft. Where are the soldiers going to come from?

So my prediction? Bombs will not be the number one killer of this war, as it was not in Gulf 1. It will be death by DU. Not to mention what it's done to the Iraqis and the environment.

[daleo]

8. It probably works both ways.

U.S. bombs have probably killed more Iraqis than U.S. bullets have.