IWR News

Iraq: A Year of Transition - Day: 209
Elusive Benchmarks?

Iraq Body Count: 7/28/06
Americans Killed: 2570
Americans Wounded: 19,157
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 43,927
http://icasualties.org/oif/
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Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Swanson, 25, of Rose Haven, Md., died on July 22 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

*Capt. Jason M. West, 28, of Pittsburg, Pa., died on July 24 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

*Spc. Joseph A. Graves, 21, of Discovery Bay, Calif., was killed on July 25 in Baghdad, Iraq.



Rumsfeld extends tours of 3,500 US troops in Iraq

"WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Pentagon extended the tours of about 3,500 US troops in Iraq for 120 days, dashing hopes of US force cuts this year in the face of surging sectarian violence. The Pentagon also identified army and marine units totalling about 25,000 troops that have been scheduled to deploy to Iraq late this year and early next, enough to maintain the US force at about 130,000 troops for a year." "The move indicated that US commanders have effectively given up hopes for even a gradual reduction in the US force this year on account of a bitter insurgency and spiralling sectarian violence.

It boosted the size of the US force from 14 brigades to 15 brigades, and from 127,000 troops to at least 130,000.

Army officials said that by the end of August the US force should increase to about 134,000 troops with the arrival of another brigade from the 82nd Airborne Infantry Division."
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Iraqi PM admits failure to contain growing violence

"The Iraqi prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, conceded yesterday that the country's security situation had worsened in the two months since he took office.
Speaking to journalists in London before meeting Tony Blair, Mr Maliki said he was planning a new security initiative for Baghdad. "The security situation has got worse since the government took control because the terrorists realise this is a government that can achieve security," Mr Maliki said. "All the groups involved in terrorism have escalated bombings, kidnappings and other actions."

Data compiled by the UN shows that an average of 100 civilians were killed each day during May and June. More than 60 were killed in car bombs in Baghdad and Kirkuk on Sunday."
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Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue