August Data: 2007 Remains More Bloody Than 2006

Updated 11 September
In August, 84 82 US military died in Iraq, the second bloodiest August (there are five) of the war. Each month of 2007, more US military have died in Iraq than in the same month in 2006. In fact, there are only three months out of the 46 prior to 2007 that have more deaths:

• April 2004: 135 to 104
• January 2005: 107 to 83
• August 2005: 85 to 84 82

We're only two-thirds of the way through the year, and 2007 deaths are 90 percent of 2006.

But the surge is working, pundits and Administration officials insist, part of the PR move preceding the report from General Petraeus that is due next week.

On what basis are these people making this claim?

The surge was designed to give the Iraqi government an incubation period. Failure.

The surge was designed to get the Iraqi police/Army up to speed. Failure.

More people died in multiple fatality bombings (defined as more than three killed) in the first eight months of 2007 than in the first eight months of 2005 and 2006 combined.

So how is it working?

US Liberals Guide Deborah White says that the Petraeus Report is irrelevant to determining "success."

See GAO Report On Iraq: Gloomy, Is The Surge Working? Data Suggest No and Conditions In Iraq.

^{Originally published 4 September}