U.S. suffers highest 6-month casualty total of the war

Above: Portraits of some of the fallen, March, 2007

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Over the past six months, American troops have died in Iraq at the highest rate since the war began, an indication that the conflict is becoming increasingly dangerous for U.S. forces even after more than four years of fighting.

From October 2006 through last month, 532 American soldiers were killed, the most during any six-month period of the war. March also marked the first time that the U.S. military suffered four straight months of 80 or more fatalities. April, with at least 58 service members killed through Monday, is on pace to be one of the deadliest months of the conflict for American forces.

Senior American military officials attribute much of the increase to the Baghdad security crackdown, now in its third month. But the rate of fatalities was increasing even before a more aggressive strategy began moving U.S. troops from heavily fortified bases into smaller neighborhood outposts throughout the capital, placing them at greater risk of roadside bombings and small-arms attacks.

Read the rest at the Monterey Herald

Related Link:
Military: Expect a 'high level of violence' in coming month

Related Link:
Report: Suicide bombings up 50% and more lethal

Related Link:
Iraq civilian deaths up in March despite crackdown

Related Link:
Report: U.S. casualties during March twice that of Iraqi forces

Related Link:
General Barbero: Suicide attacks, car bombings up 30% since security crackdown; Another child used in bombing

Related Link:
Pentagon Report: Attacks in 2007 at record high

Related Link:
Pentagon Report: Some Iraq violence constitutes 'civil war'; Last 3 months of 2006 most violent of war

Related Link:
DOD Intelligence Director Maples: Attacks on forces match record high in January