US Casualties Rise Sharply in September (and October?)

Not really a surprise with the US operations moving into the hottest spots in Baghdad, but still notable.

Last month, 776 U.S. troops were wounded in action in Iraq, the highest number since the military assault to retake the insurgent-held city of Fallujah in November 2004.....

The sharp increase in American wounded -- with nearly 300 more in the first week of October...

Check those numbers. Nearly 300 in the just completed first week of October would project to 1200, a new highest number again this month.

Also: If you were on the front lines in Baghdad, how would you feel about the failure to "stand up?" The Iraqi battalions requested for Baghdad still haven't arrived.

U.S. commanders have appealed for weeks for 3,000 more Iraqi army troops to help secure Baghdad but as of Thursday had received only a few hundred, according to military officials in the Iraqi capital. Mistrust of Iraqi police in Baghdad remains high, Abizaid said. ....

"In a sense, the Baghdad security plan is a complete repudiation of the earlier Rumsfeld doctrine where he said the Iraqis would prevent the civil war," said O'Hanlon.....

So what's plan "B", Mr. President? And why does Don Rumsfeld still have a job?