Death toll in Iraq reaches 1,000, 3X the number of fatalities in Persian Gulf

Their faces, smiling or solemn, are all too familiar in our newspapers and on television. Their names sound a somber roll call -- Smith, Falaniko, Ramos, Lee -- a roster that seems to grow daily. U.S. military deaths in the Iraq campaign passed 1,000 on Tuesday.The conflict in Iraq has claimed almost three times the number of Americans lost in the Persian Gulf War. And this time, the vast majority of U.S. deaths -- all but 138 -- came after major combat operations were declared over. "Mission Accomplished," read a banner on the aircraft carrier where President Bush spoke on May 1, 2003. Sixteen months later, the fighting goes on. So do the funerals. [more ] and [more ]

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