U.S. Fatalities in Iraq for October, 2007 are the lowest of the war!

For the month of October there were 39 fatalities. In October of 2006 we had 106 U.S. Fatalities in Iraq. This continues to be a major story and does show that the violence is down in Iraq, at least for Americans. It is a substantial reduction from the 106 last year and the lowest month of fatalities since March of 2006 when we had 31 and before that for March 2005 when we had 35.

For the months of October since this war started, these are the numbers of U.S. Fatalities in theater:

Oct. 2003 44
Oct. 2004 64
Oct. 2005 96
Oct. 2006 106
Oct. 2007 39

This is an extraordinary reduction and while they may be many reasons for the reduction such as the surge working, Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr calling off his Army and asking them to stand down, it really doesn't matter. The numbers are drastically lower than the past 5 years of this war.

What I don't understand is why the media isn't making more of these numbers. Look, I'm no fan of this war either, but when there is anything that is positive about this tragedy, it should be reported.

There are now 3,845 U.S. Fatalities, as of the reporting this morning. May they rest in peace and their families healed for their loss.

Iraqi elections- Isn't it time again?

Seems like it's time for another round of mid term elections in Iraq. Now that Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has quit the Parliament maybe it's time for ordinary Iraqi's to decide if they are on the "right course" or if a change in leadership is needed. Al Maliki has the support of President Bush but Moqtada al-Sadr is removing his support of the leadership. And add to that Al Sadr is the most popular figure in Iraq today and you can see what a problem is created here for the U.S., as well as the Maliki government. All this is happening at the time of the "surge". The issue for Al Sadr is when will U.S. troops leave? He has called on his people to protest in the streets peacefully to make a big statement to us and his own government. Moqtada al-Sadr reportedly has over 60,000 in his militia according to CNN reports and hundred's of thousands of other supporters.

An election of even minor parliament figures could change the balance of power within the government and this in turn could lead to some necessary changes and decisions by the Iraqi government. It could also provide the clarity for us as to when we should leave Iraq. The main stream media will position Al-Sadr leaving the government as a bad thing. It really isn't, as that is how change takes place in a democracy.