IRAQ: U.S. Soldiers in the Crosshairs

photo: Ceerwan Aziz/Reuters

Chuck Pena's piece yesterday drew a very stark military picture. The article
below deepens the military disaster.

Where is the president, the Republican led Congress? Right, on vacation. How fitting.

The number of roadside bombs planted in Iraq rose in July to the highest monthly total of the war, offering more evidence that the anti-American insurgency has continued to strengthen despite the killing of the terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Along with a sharp increase in sectarian attacks, the number of daily strikes against American and Iraqi security forces has doubled since January. The deadliest means of attack, roadside bombs, made up much of that increase. In July, of 2,625 explosive devices, 1,666 exploded and 959 were discovered before they went off. In January, 1,454 bombs exploded or were found. … Insurgent Bombs Directed at G.I.’s Increase in Iraq