While the politicians bleat, this April has started off to be one of the worst in terms of fallen warriors since George Bush started his private war in Iraq.
As of today 18 service men/women have given their lives for George Bush's messianic wet dream in the first 5 days of this month. Of note is that 6 of these have been British troops and of that 6, 2 were women.
Update ... Just announced Gates has order on desk to call up 12,000 more National Guard troops.
More below the fold ...
TWO women were among four British soldiers killed in a roadside ambush in Iraq, it was revealed tonight.
The women - from the Intelligence Corps, the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps - were inside a Warrior armoured vehicle returning from patrol near Basra when insurgents struck.
Two male soldiers from the Royal Army Medical Corps and 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment were also killed, along with a Kuwaiti interpreter.
A fifth soldier was seriously injured in the blast, which left a 3ft deep crater in the road. All next of kin have been informed.
Iraqis danced and sang in celebration at the scene of the horrific deaths, many stealing the dead troops' helmets and body armour as "trophies" of the tragedy.
These facts are being somewhat buried by the news of the sailor/marines released from Iran. But the trend is indisputable; while some posit that the surge is working the insurgency in Iraq is saying "not so quick".
UK NAME NOT RELEASED YET Basra - Basrah Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
UK NAME NOT RELEASED YET Basra - Basrah Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
UK NAME NOT RELEASED YET Basra - Basrah Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
UK NAME NOT RELEASED YET Basra - Basrah Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad (eastern part) Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad (north of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad (north of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad (southern part) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad (southern part) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US Staff Sergeant Shane R. Becker Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
US Private 1st Class Gabriel J. Figueroa Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
US Specialist Curtis R. Spivey San Diego - Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US Lance Corporal Daniel R. Olsen Fallujah - Anbar Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Al Anbar Province Hostile - hostile fire
US Sergeant Bradley D. King Amiriyah - Anbar Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US Specialist Brian E. Ritzberg Kirkuk - At-Ta'mim Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
UK Rifleman Aaron Lincoln Basra - Basrah Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
US Staff Sergeant David A. Mejias Baghdad (southwest of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US Staff Sergeant Eric R. Vick Baghdad (southwest of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US Sergeant Robert M. McDowell Baghdad (southwest of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US Specialist William G. Bowling Baghdad (southwest of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
US Private 1st Class Miguel A. Marcial III Al Anbar Province Non-hostile
UK Kingsman (private) Danny John Wilson Basra - Basrah Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
US Staff Sergeant Jason R. Arnette Baghdad (southwest of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
In somewhat related news, adminstration mouth pieces are saying that 6 months ago, before Cain's visit to the marketplace, that venue was the site of a massive car bomb. Of course there is no talk of how that marketplace looked the day after Cain's visit.
Push ... push ... push ... the surge is working ... the surge is working. Well how about the IRC or the UN being able to return to Iraq as a measure of how the surge is doing. I have yet to hear ANYONE mention the return of these two international organizations as a 'benchmark' to how well this 'Surge' is doing.
As far as I can tell, it's the same crap with a new wrapper.