XDA

It was a relatively quiet month. There was hardly any combat involving Americans in Iraq and there was hardly anything but an armed struggle going on in Afghanistan. Still, although each death is a private tragedy for the slain and to his or her family and friends, the totals were very light, for nearly 200,000 American warriors fighting the good fight in foreign lands.

Here are the details. According to releases from the Department of Defense, for the month of November, 10 American warriors were killed in Iraq and 18 were killed in Afghanistan for a total of 28, less than one per day. Here is further breakdown: In Iraq, four died from non combat causes, four were killed in accidents and one was killed by small arms. As I wrote, not a lot of fighting going on there. In Afghanistan, seven were killed by IEDs, five were killed in combat operations, two were killed by a suicide bomber and one each was killed by mortar fire, small arms, an accident and a non combat cause. I guess the Taliban is indeed waiting for the dreaded Spring Offensive, but, back on a serious side, only two of the 18 killed in Afghanistan last month were not killed in some form of combat.

There were no soldiers, et al. with feminine names and only two officers killed, both dead in a single helicopter crash in Iraq. They were CWO Mathew Heffelfinger, 29, of Kimberly, ID and CWO Earl Scott III, 24, of Jacksonville, FL.

Our thoughts and prayers go out for all our men and women at arms fighting the war the Islamic extremists have brought against us. We pray also for their swift and safe rotation home and complete success with their mission.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

For April, as announced by the Department of Defense, 53 service members died--48 from service in Iraq (up about a dozen from last month) and 5 from service in Afghanistan (that's down, slightly).

Here's a further breakdown: In Iraq, 24 were killed by IEDs. That's the principle source of the rise in combat deaths over last month. Six were killed by small arms (mostly RPGs this month); two were killed in accidents; five from non-combat causes; one in a rocket attack; four Marines were killed in combat operations in al Anbar; and, four from indirect fire. One soldier died but there was no further information.

In Afghanistan, one was killed by an IED and two in combat operations without further detail. Two were killed by small arms fire. Because of the paucity of firefight deaths, I'd still say the (slightly) Dreaded Spring Taliban Offensive is yet to arrive.

Only woman woman died; 40 year old Petty Officer 1st Class Cherie L. Morton, was found dead at her home in Bahrain and her death is a mystery. Two Majors , a Captain and two First Lts, including Matthew Vandergrift, 28 of Littleton, CO a few miles from here, died with harness on their backs.

Our hopes and prayers go out for all our brave warriors.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

For March, as announced by the Department of Defense, 39 service members died--33 from service in Iraq (nearly the same as last month) and 6 from service in Afghanistan (that's up).

Here's a further breakdown: In Iraq, 16 were killed by IEDs. That's nearly the same as last month. Only two were killed by small arms; three were killed in accidents; only one from non-combat causes; five from a suicide bomber on foot; and, five from indirect fire. No marines died in combat operations in al Anbar. That's good. One soldier died but there was no further information.

In Afghanistan, four were killed by IEDs and two in combat operations without further detail. That's five more than the single IED caused death last month. Because of the paucity of firefight deaths, I'd say the (slightly) Dreaded Spring Taliban Offensive is yet to arrive.

Our hopes and prayers go out for all our brave warriors.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

For February, as announced by the Department of Defense, 32 service mermbers died--31 from service in Iraq (down by nearly 25% from last month) and 1 from service in Afghanistan.

Here's a further breakdown: In Iraq, 18 were killed by IEDs. That's nearly the same as last month. Only seven were killed by small arms (which include RPGs); one was killed in an accident; three from non-combat causes; and, one from indirect fire. One marine died in combat operations in al Anbar.

In Afghanistan, only one died and his death was caused by an IED. I'm sure that will pick up with the (slightly) Dreaded Spring Taliban Offensive.

Only one woman died, Keisha Morgan, 25, from a non combat related cause. It was a hard month for captains though. Two were the first casualties of the month. The three are Captain Nathan Raudenbush, 25, Captain Michael Norman, 36, and Captain David Schultz, 25. Also two SEALs were killed in a firefight. Our hopes and prayers go out for all our brave warriors.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

Here it is over a third of the way into February and I haven't posted on the service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan in January. I'm kind of like the mainstream media regarding bad news--out of sight, out of mind, not in print. And there is a little bit of bad news

For January, as announced by the Department of Defense, 49 service mermbers died--41 from service in Iraq and 8 from service in Afghanistan. Here's a further breakdown: In Iraq, 17 were killed by IEDs. That's up from last month. Indeed about twice as many died in Iraq in January as died in December 2007. Only three were killed by small arms, one was killed in an accident, three from non-combat causes and one from a non-combat illness. One marine died from a non hostile incident and one sailor fell overboard in the Arabian sea and is missing, presumed dead. One marine died in combat operations in al Anbar. It's been months since that's happened. Three with the 101st were killed in combat operations elsewhere. They had an appointment in Samarra. In Afghanistan, a full 6 died from IEDs and two from small arms. Perhaps the nature of combat is changing there. IEDs were a very minor part of Afghan duty even 6 months ago.

Only one woman died, Tracy Birkman, 41, of New Castle, VA. It was a hard month for the brass though. The first officer casualty, almost the first of the year, was local good guy, Major Andrew Olmsted, who blogged from the Springs before he rotated over. But with him (in an IED attack) went Captain Thomas Casey. Also killed were Major Michaed Green, Lt. Colonel Richard Berrettini and Major Alan Rogers.

Only months from the Dreaded (but not very much) Spring Taliban Offensive and probably some more operations against al Qaeda goons perhaps this time in Mosul. The American death toll will probably rise through September a little before it falls again as Winter sets in. It is unclear to me if Marines transfered from Iraq to Afghanistan will effect the numbers one way or the other. Our hopes and prayers go out for all our brave warriors.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

Things have gotten much, much better. As announced by the Department of Defense during the month of December 2007, 21 Americans in the armed forces died in Iraq and 5 in Afghanistan for a total of 26, less than one a day. Here's the breakdown.

In Iraq, 10 died from IED explosions, one was killed in a accident (in Kuwait), three from non combat causes, one from what was only called enemy actions, and two, Austin Pratt and Peter Neesley, in situations which are being investigated. Only four were killed by small arms. That is not a lot of combat any way you look at it.

In Afghanistan, three were killed by IEDs, one died from a non combat related illness and one from a non combat cause. That's almost no combat at all.

No women died but we lost three officers--Captain Adam Snyder, 1st Lt. Jeremy Ray and Captain Rowdy Inman.

Yeah, the surge change in tactics has failed and the Taliban is poised to retake Afghanistan.

It is incredible to me that there are sentient Americans (all on the Left, apparently) who believe those false talking points. It's a wilful ignorance. There is no other way to explain it.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

For the period October 4, 2007 to November 3, 2007, as reported by the Department of Defense, 49 of our forces were killed, 40 in Iraq and 9 in Afghanistan. Here is a further breakdown. In Afghanistan, two were killed by IEDs, one was killed in an accident, and another from a non-combat cause. Four were killed by small arms. The last, Joseph Curren, died in the Philippines from a non-combat illness. How is that a death in Afghanistan?

In Iraq, 20 were killed by IEDs, eight by small arms and only one in the catch all category, usually reserved for Marines, combat operations. Three died in accidents, two were killed in a rocket attack, one died of a non-combat illness and for two there was not enough information to tell. There were three dead from non-combat causes including two women who were gunned down by a jealous and/or deranged American soldier in Bahrain. Again, how is that a war death in Iraq?

It was a tough 31 days for women in the war, five died--Shayna Ann Schnell, 19, Rachael Hugo, 24, Lillian Clamens, 35, Anamarie Camacho, 20 (who was from Tinian) and Genesia Gresham, 19. Those last two women were shot by Clarence Jackson, who shot himself thereafter in the head but hasn't died yet. We lost a Major and a Captain as well.

The trend line remains down, which is good. The last 6 months has gone: By Oct. 3--72; by Sept. 3--98; by Aug 3--80, by July 3--134; by June 3--126; by May 3--106. We all long for the day when the count reaches zero.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

In the past thirty days, from September 4, 2007 to October 3, 2007 pursuant to Department of Defense news releases during that period, 63 of the American military forces in Iraq died and 9 of the American military forces in Afghanistan died, for a total of 72. That's less than the past several months. I'm not going to jump on these figures as support for our success in the war, mainly because I don't believe our casualties are a major sign of success or failure. The last major battle of WWII, the conquest of Okinawa, was the bloodiest of our entire war in the Pacific. Would any sane person have argued therefore that we were losing the war then? No, of course not.


The evidence of the success in Iraq is contained in the half again fewer civilian casualties from the month before (which was half fewer than the month before that and about the lowest since the mosque in Samarra was blown up); and in the words of our generals, et al., over there.


Here is the breakdown. In Iraq, 24 were killed by IEDs. Nine were killed in combat operations and nine again by small arms. Eight were killed in accidents, most in a single roll over and 12 died from non combat causes. One was killed in what was only described as an attack. Thanks for the details, DoD. This is really much lower and better than what we've been experiencing for the last 6 months and a little bit of good news amid the tragedies.


In Afghanistan, three were killed in combat operations, four from small arms and only one from an IED. The Less-dreaded Taliban Fall Offensive certainly has not gotten into any sort of high gear. One died from non combat causes.

Three women died in the war, all of non combat causes. Hope that stops soon. Two captains were killed one of them a woman.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

Except for a Blackhawk helicopter crash, which killed 14, the period August 4, 2007 to September 3, 2007, according to Department of Defense releases, was only a little more bloody than last month's list of dead for Afghanistan and Iraq. In total, 98 American servicemen died in those countries during this last period. Here is the breakdown.

In Afghanistan, 13 American servicemen died. One by small arms fire and four in the non-descript combat operations. Five were killed by IEDs and three were killed from non combat causes or incidents, which usually means suicide. We're sending hundreds of Taliban and other Jihadists to Paradise each month in that country as part of the dreaded Taliban Summer Offensive, no matter what Barack Obama says, so that appears to be going well nearly 6 years after we began to take the Taliban out. People who say there is a Taliban resurgence, or we've let things go in Afghanistan and are in danger of getting kicked out, are either delusional or extremely nervous types.

In Iraq, 85 servicemen died. IEDs were used to kill 33, and small arms, including any type of grenade, killed 9. Combat operations, usually in al Anbar province and almost exclusively Marines, accounted for 8 deaths. 20 died in accidents including the Blackhawk. One died of natural causes (I still think that shouldn't count), six were killed by non combat causes or incidents, six died from indirect fire and for two there was no information given other than they had died in Iraq.

I'm sorry to report that it looks like three, maybe four, women were among the dead-- Alicia Bichett, Princess Samuels and Zanda Walker, all in their 20s. The fourth possibility was Kanisha Black, but I can't find out the gender of that soldier. We lost two captains in the Blackhawk crash, another captain was a non combat caused casualty and a major went down in combat operations in Afghanistan.

It's difficult to see the pattern. There are more servicemen (and women) in Iraq now than in the past 4 years, and we're out hunting and killing the enemy every day, yet after a jump up in June and July (with 122 and 120 war dead) we're back to Spring numbers just at the beginning of the surge change in tactics. I look on it as good news that casualties seem to be heading down again, while each serious injury and death remains a private tragedy, especially since most of these men and women are so young.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

According to Department of Defense announcements during the period July 4, 2007 to August 3, 2007 (inclusive) there were 80 American military deaths during that period in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's better than it has been for a while. Here's the breakdown.

In Afghanistan, 12 Americans dies--5 were killed by IEDs and 5 by small arms. One was killed by indirect fire and 1 in what was described merely as combat operations. That sounds like a real, but very small war. Karzai has announced that the Taliban is defeated and it is merely a matter of time before they are eradicated. Sounds plausible to me.

In Iraq, as usual, the IED has killed the most--this period it was 33. That is way, way down from early Summer. Good. Thirteen were killed in combat operations, but they were not all Marines and not only in al Anbar. Seven were killed by small arms including grenades and rocket propelled grenades. Three died in accidents and 7 were dead from non combat causes. One was killed by mortar fire and one was killed by indirect fire. It really bugs me that I do not grasp the distinction between those two. One was killed by a land mine, one died from a non hostile cause and one from an unknown cause. A colonel was killed and two majors and two first lieutenants. I did nor see a single woman's name. That's good too. So the total was 68, which is about half of what the figure was in July and June (122 and 120) and nearly a third less than the figures in May and April (98 and 96).

I would not expect that more aggressive tactics would result in less battle deaths, not immediately, at least. The surge tactics involve, in set piece attacks, take and hold as opposed to take and abandon. That change in itself doesn't seem actually more aggressive. Still, our casualties were up since Petraeus took over. But there is a hidden side of this sort of war; the special forces who target and kill, target and kill in small, well planned attacks. Apparently those guys have been unleashed and are wreaking havoc in the al Qaeda middle management. So with no big increase in our casualties, were sending the Jihad types on to Paradise at an increasing rate. And we're being joined by ever better Iraqi forces and also sick-of-al-Qaeda Iraqi citizens, not only in al Anbar but in Diyala and even Salah ad-Din provinces as well.

Getting tougher and tougher to say the new tactics have failed.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

Bloody month again for American troops during the 30 day period June 4, 2007 to July 3, 2007 as reported by the Department of Defense in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Here's the breakdown.

In Afghanistan five were killed in a helicopter crash (probably shot down) and four were killed from small arms fire including RPGs. So a real war is still going on there. Still waiting for the Taliban to come out and fight like men in a big way. Two Americans were killed by IEDs. Hope that number doesn't go up. And a light colonel died under mysterious circumstances. The total was 12.

It was much worse in Iraq. 88, mother of God, 88 people were killed by IEDs. 21 were killed by small arms again including RPGs. Only four were killed in combat operations in al Anbar, so the pacification of that large province is for real as marines killed in combat operations in al Anbar used to give IEDs a run for the money and have at least low 20s on this list. This is excellent news (especially since my cousin is going over there in a matter of months). Only one was killed in an accident (a major who crashed his jet). Four died of non combat incidents and one from a non combat illness. One died from indirect fire and one, a light colonel, by chance, died under mysterious circumstances. We lost, in addition to the colonels, a couple of majors, a captain and a 1st Lt. Only one woman I could identify, Sgt. Trista Moetti, died from an IED.

So the total for Iraq was 122 and the grand total was 134. Not much better, or worse, than the last few months, but for al Anbar, but if we could solve the IED problem, the combat deaths would sink to near utter insignificance. Since I look on the IED as a stand off proxy for stand up fighting, I don't see this as an increasing struggle although the next few months will be more instructive.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

Based on Department of Defense releases, for the period May 4 , 2007 to June 3, 2007, 6 American soldiers died in Afghanistan, and 120 died in Iraq, which is another very bloody month (up over 20 from last month). Here are the breakdowns. In Afghanistan, one person died on a combat patrol, 4 from small arms and one from absolutely unknown causes. Too late for the dreaded Spring Offensive by the Taliban. It will have to be the dreaded Summer Offensive, if it comes at all this year.

In Iraq, the IED, as usual, killed the most--81 (which I think is the most by that tactic ever). Small arms was a distant second with 20. The generic term combat operations killed 11. There continues to be some real fighting going on with the surge. Only one was killed in an accident; four from non-combat causes; and, one each from indirect fire, non-hostile incident, and enemy action (without further information). I believe again no women died, unless they had absolutely masculine names.

There was one Colonel killed by small arms, in Afghanistan, and four first lieutenants and one major killed in Iraq.

I'm unsure why these unprecedentedly low casualty figures make the majority of Americans want to bring the boys and girls home before it's over, over there. And the fact that we're taking more casualties now that there are more men and women in the field trying hard to kill the enemy in no way tells the tale of success or failure. The tell tales in al Anbar and in Baghdad are in fact positive, with the surge finally just getting the full compliment to deploy.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead

Based on Department of Defense releases, for the period April 3, 2007 to May 3, 2007, 8 American soldiers died in Afghanistan, and 98 died in Iraq, which is another bloody month (although just up 2 from last month). These are really unprecedentedly low combat death figures for wars this size, but still a concern. Each, of course, remains a personal tragedy for family and friends. Here are the breakdowns.

In Afghanistan, one person died from a land mine; two from non-combat causes, three from IEDs, one from small arms and one from combat operations. Still awaiting the dreaded Spring Offensive by the Taliban although the death toll is up from last month by 5.

In Iraq, the IED, as usual, killed the most--58--with the generic term combat operations a distant second with 15. Small arms (including grenades and RPGs) killed 14. That last is double last month so there must be some real fighting going on with the surge. Two were killed in accidents; four from non-combat causes; and four from indirect fire (which almost certainly is mortar fire, another tell tale for real fighting although not perfectly reliable). Finally one died from an unknown cause---the DOD just didn't put out enough information for anyone to tell. I believe no women died, unless they had absolutely masculine names.

If we could solve the IED problem, then the combat deaths would be only about one per day. I have no scientific training, but because there are so many different types of explosives and sealing them up would prevent the type of 'sniffing' we used to do more of in airports, I thought that a sort of radar beam which detects the kind of molecular structures which can be explosives would be the goal to chase, if indeed that's even possible. Someone, maybe the pentagon, should put up a big cash prize for the scientist or team of scientists who come up with a method for detecting explosives at no less than 50 meters.

Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead