Last week: US Iraq Casualties Jump To 75,136

Last week: US Iraq Casualties Jump To 75,136
Compiled by Michael Munk | www.MichaelMunk.com

US military occupation forces in Iraq under Commander-in-Chief Obama suffered at least ten combat casualties in the week ending November 3, 2009 as the official total since the 2003 invasion rose to at least 75,136. The total includes 35,020 dead and wounded from what the Pentagon classifies as "hostile" causes and more than 40,116 (as of October 31, 2009) dead and medically evacuated from "non-hostile" causes.*

The actual total is over 100,000 because the Pentagon chooses not to count as "Iraq casualties" the more than 30,000 veterans whose injuries-mainly brain trauma from explosions - were diagnosed only after they had left Iraq.** In addition, ICC names eight service members who died of wounds after they left Iraq and are not counted by the Pentagon.***

US media divert attention from the actual cost in American life and limb by occasionally reporting only the total killed (4,359 as of Nov. 3, 2009), but rarely mentioning the 31,545 (another Pentagon site lists 31,557) wounded in combat. To further minimize public perception of the cost, they cover for the Pentagon by ignoring the 39,232 (as of Oct 31, 2009)*** military victims of accidents and illness serious enough to require medical air evacuation, although the 4,359 reported deaths include 884 (up three) who died from those same causes, including at least 18 from faulty electrical work by KBR and 196 suicides through Oct. 3.***

Key:

* The number of wounded is updated weekly (usually Tuesday).
** New York Times, Jan 26, 2009
*** http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/oif-total.pdf