I examined U.S. troop fatalities in Iraq for the period of February (when the surge escalation began) through August of 2007 for troop deaths compared to the same months of 2006. I also looked at comparing the number of U.S. troops wounded in Iraq for the period of February through July of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006 (numbers for August 2007 were not available through the data source I used -- http://icasualties.org/...
I must add the caveat that I am not a statistician and was doing this from vague memories from my college statistics classes using the very simple statistical functions in Microsoft Excel. Those who know more about this type of analysis please feel free to let me know if I am way off base.
At least based upon my admittedly simple comparison, it appears that both the number of troop deaths since the surge escalation began and the number of troops wounded since the surge began have increased significantly when compared to the same time period in 2006. Details after the fold.
Data table for comparing troop fatalities:
Mo/Yr | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug |
2006 | 55 | 31 | 76 | 69 | 61 | 43 | 65 |
2007 | 81 | 81 | 104 | 126 | 101 | 79 | 84 |
The average (mean) number of troop deaths per month in 2007 was 94 (rounded) compared with 57 in 2006.
At alpha .05, the difference was significant at p<0.0014. Whether the escalation caused the average increase in troop deaths or failed to control other factors cannot be determined by this simple comparison; however, there is little doubt our troops are being killed at greater rate now than in the year before.</p>
Data table for comparing troops wounded:
Mo/Yr | Feb | March | April | May | June | July |
2006 | 342 | 496 | 433 | 442 | 459 | 525 |
2007 | 517 | 618 | 649 | 655 | 744 | 608 |
Mean monthly wounded in 2007 period: 632 (rounded)
Mean monthly wounded in 2006 period: 450 (rounded)
P<0.000985 at alpha .05</p>
As we are told this week that the escalation must continue, let us remember our troops and what is happening to them the longer this absurdity continues.