Deadliest Year in Iraq

2007 is the deadliest year so far for United States troops in Iraq. Six soldiers were killed Monday, which brings the total number of deaths this year alone up to 852. It is ironic how these deaths came only a few days after the military announced that there has been a significant drop in the rate of American deaths this year. The average number of American military deaths per month is 69, however this October 38 service members died in Iraq, making it the lowest total since 2003. The growing number of deaths is attributed to the large number of troops present since the surge, which brought around 165,000 new troops to Iraq. The Bush administration claims "despite the high cost in terms of lives lost, the strategy has brought improved security to the country."