November in Iraq: Another drop in casualties

The casualty counts will probably endure some fits and starts in the coming months as the U.S. turns over more and more of the statistical record-keeping to Iraqi forces, but November showed another drop in casualties among civilians and Iraqi security forces.

Nov-07	560
Oct-07	679
Sep-07	848
Aug-07	1,674
Jul-07	1,690
Jun-07	1,345
May-07	1,980

(icasualties.org)

Bear in mind that casualty figures might receive an upward adjustment if November casualties turn up in December. Usually such adjustments are minor, so it appears that this category of deaths dipped by approximately 100.

U.S. military deaths, by staying about the same as for October, were on track to be at their lowest for a two-month period since Feb-Mar of 2004:

2003	0	0	65	74	37	30	48	35	31	44	82	40
2004	47	20	52	135	80	42	54	66	80	64	137	72
2005	107	58	35	52	80	78	54	85	49	96	84	68
2006	62	55	31	76	69	61	43	65	72	106	70	112
2007	83	81	81	104	126	101	78	84	65	38	37

(icasualties.org)

It's worth noting that Iraq Body Count shows a much higher total for November, and it's somewhat more difficult to see trends in the IBC numbers than for icasualties.org.

NOVEMBER TOTAL: 1,100 CIVILIANS KILLED
(Iraq Body Count)

And in other news ...

A Democrat congressman who once led criticism of the Iraq war now admits President Bush's change of strategy has improved security.
(...)
Fresh from a four-day visit to Iraq and Kuwait, John Murtha said: "I think the 'surge' is working."
(TelegraphUK)

Murtha went on to reiterate his call for a U.S. troop withdrawal.

Democrats in Congress now look beyond pathetic. President Bush's change in strategy worked in spite of the initial charges that it would not. Gen. Petraeus was correct about reductions in violence despite comments such as that of Sen. Clinton that Petraeus' report requires "a willing suspension of disbelief" (Senatese for "Liar, liar, pants on fire!").

And now the Dems are apparently desperate to put their stamp on troop reductions to make sure the anti-war faction on the left gives credit where the Democrats want it.

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