Troops deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan at lowest

[unhappycamper]

Troops deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan at lowest
By Andrea Stone - USA TODAY
Posted : Tuesday Dec 30, 2008 17:41:50 EST

BAGHDAD — As 2008 ends, U.S. troop deaths for the year in Iraq and Afghanistan are the lowest combined total since the Iraq war began in 2003.

Still, Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, warns against complacency as the Americans hand off security to Iraqi forces and more U.S. forces head to Afghanistan.

“In military terms, transitions are always the most dangerous,” he said. “We’re trying to make sure we don’t have any seams in our transition.”

So far in December, at least 14 U.S. servicemembers have died of injuries suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan, the lowest combined monthly toll since the Iraq war began, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Pentagon data. The previous low was 18 in November.

Deaths for the year as of Tuesday were 466 in both wars, lower even than the partial year of 2003, when fighting in Iraq began March 20.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_deaths_iraq_afghanistan_123008/%2e



uhc comment: icasualties reports 31 deaths in Iraq and 26 deaths in Afghanistan.