Iraq is marking America's military just as Vietnam did
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Two thousand United States military personnel have died as a result
of the conflict in Iraq, according to figures issued by Pentagon.
A sergeant wounded by a bomb in the insurgent stronghold
of Samarra earlier this month died of his wounds and officially became
the 2,000th death.
Unofficial estimates put Iraqi civilian deaths at at least 25,000 since the US-led invasion began in March 2003.
President Bush has called on troops to persevere in "spreading freedom".
Staff Sgt George T Alexander Jr, 34, died in hospital in
Texas of wounds he received when a bomb hit his vehicle in Samarra on
17 October.
A spokesman for the American-led multinational force in Baghdad appealed to media not to make too much of the 2,000 figure.
"The 2,000 service members killed in Iraq supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom is not a milestone," Lt Col Steve Boylan told
AP news agency.
"It is an artificial mark on the wall set by individuals or groups with specific agendas and ulterior motives."
Tough test
The BBC's defence correspondent, Rob Watson, says the
war in Iraq has dramatically exposed both the strengths and weaknesses
of America's armed forces.
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US DEATH TOLL, IRAQ
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The initial invasion of Iraq demonstrated the
extraordinary firepower, speed and technological sophistication of the
US military. In just three weeks it toppled the Iraqi government at the
cost of less than 150 US casualties.
But the US military has been markedly less successful since then in fighting insurgents and "nation-building".
As one commander put it, the US military remains better at killing than peacekeeping, our correspondent notes.
Throughout it all though the US armed forces have
continued to enjoy a good reputation at home, where public opinion has
also remained remarkably and strikingly tolerant of American
casualties.
That said the deaths in Iraq are taking their toll on
recruitment with all branches of the US military struggling to attract
new men and women.
As the war has continued, comparisons have been made to
Vietnam, though that was a conscript war which saw nearly 60,000 US
casualties.
But, like Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq is sure to have
a profound and long-lasting effect on US attitudes to war and how and
when it should be waged, our defence correspondent says.
According to a count made by UK-based academics and
peace activists this summer, nearly 25,000 civilians died violently in
the first two years of the conflict while nearly 43,000 were injured.
One of the groups involved, Iraq Body Count (IBC), says on its website the toll could now be more than 30,000.
Civilians suffer
Col Boylan added that the Iraqi public had taken the "brunt" of casualties, saying the true number might never be known.
According to a count made by UK-based academics and
peace activists this summer, nearly 25,000 civilians died violently in
the first two years of the conflict while nearly 43,000 were injured.
One of the groups involved, Iraq Body Count (IBC), says on its website the toll could now be more than 30,000.
While many of the deaths between March 2003 and March
2005 are attributed to militant attacks and violent crime, IBC says
US-led forces killed 37% of civilian victims.
Mr Bush said on Tuesday that "more sacrifice" would be required of US forces.
"The terrorists are as brutal an enemy as we have ever faced," he told officers' wives in Washington.
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