Official US Military Casualty Count Reaches 70,231

Official US Military Casualty Count Reaches 70,231 | Compiled by Michael Munk | www.MichaelMunk.com

US military occupation forces in Iraq suffered eight combat casualties in the week ending Dec.16 as the official casualty total rose to at least 70,231. The total includes 34,276 dead and wounded from what the Pentagon classifies as "hostile" causes and more than 35,955 dead and medically evacuated (as of Dec. 6, 2008) from "non-hostile" causes.*

The actual total is over 90,000 because the Pentagon chooses not to count as "Iraq casualties" the more than 20,000 veterans whose injuries-mainly brain trauma from explosions--were diagnosed only after they had left Iraq..**

US media divert attention from the actual cost in American life and limb by occasionally reporting only the total killed (4,211 as of Dec.16, 2008) but rarely mentioning the 30,879 wounded in combat. To further minimize public perception of the cost, they cover for the Pentagon by ignoring the 35,141 (as of Dec 6, 2008)*** military victims of accidents and illness serious enough to require medical air evacuation, although the 4,211 reported deaths include 814 (no change) who died from those same causes, including at least 18 from faulty electrical work by KBR and 145 suicides (suicides last updated March 1).

Notes:

* The number of wounded is updated weekly (usually Tuesdays) by the Pentagon.

** see USA Today, Nov. 23, 2007 (hardcopy, no link available)

*** the number of "non combat" injured was reported by the Pentagon.