XDA

Here is a somewhat helpful analysis of the last 30 days of casualties (deaths only) in Iraq and Afghanistan. These all were officially announced by our Department of Defense (click on releases) from 9/3/05 to 10/3/05. There were a total of 67 (which is above our average, as is to be expected with increasing violence prior to important elections mid-month).

During this period three guys in the Navy died. None were battle deaths. One died in a car wreck; one fell out of a helicopter; one was lost at sea (just disappeared).

In Afghanistan, six died in accidents--one in a car wreck; 5 in the crash of a helicopter. One died of a 'non-hostile gunshot wound' under investigation. One died in a mortar attack. Two died from small arms fire. In other works, 30% were killed in what everyone would consider standard war fighting. None were killed by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).

In Iraq, forty-0ne died from IEDs. Forty-one! Only three from small arms fire. One from a 'non-hostile gunshot wound' under investigation. Three died from 'indirect fire' (which I used to think was a mortar attack but now I'm not so sure). Six were killed in accidents of which 4 were vehicle related. In other words, 11% died in what everyone would consider standard war fighting and nearly 78% were killed with roadside bombs--not generally considered standard war fighting.

They are clearly different sorts of wars going on in these two countries.

Only one was a woman: Airman 1st Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 21 of Riviera Beach, FL, the only airforce personnel, who died from an IED near her convoy vehicle outside Camp Bucca on September 28, 2005.