Will Bush hail "5 short of last year's U.S. death toll" as "progress?"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

U.S. death toll in Iraq for '05 nears '04 level
841 soldiers killed this year — just 5 short of last year's toll



U.S. Army Brigadier General James Terry, Deputy Commanding General for Operations with the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum (L), presents the flag that covered U.S. Army Specialist Toccara R. Green's casket to her mother, Yvonne Green, during Spc. Green's burial at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 26, 2005, in Arlington, Virginia.

Updated: 12:25 p.m. ET Dec. 31, 2005

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10636018/

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two more U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq as the year wound down Friday, putting the American military death toll at 841 so far — just five short of 2004’s lost lives despite political progress and dogged efforts to quash the insurgency.

Violence continued on Saturday with gunmen raiding a house near Iskandariyah, 30 miles south of Baghdad, and killing five members of a Sunni family, army Col. Hussein Sheyaa said. A roadside bomb also exploded in Baghdad, killing five policemen, 1st Lt. Nadum Nuaman said.

In addition, five members of the Iraqi Islamic party died when a roadside bomb exploded near their headquarters in Al-Khalis, 10 miles east of Baqouba, police said.

In Baghdad, hundreds of cars lined up at gas stations as word spread that Iraq’s largest oil refinery shut down two weeks ago because of threats of insurgent attacks. Nearly three years after the U.S.-led invasion, a fuel crisis again threatens to cripple a country with the world’s third-largest proven oil reserves.

[benddem]

1. of course

we're winnin the war on terrer

[Hand]

2. Chimpy would say: "Just a little over 840..."

Great news unless you're the "just a little over".

[Mz Pip]

3. Decline in casualties

shows the enormous progress we are making in Iraq. Stay the course. Maybe we'll have a few less next year, too. :sarcasm:

Mz Pip
:dem: