Iraq: Another Tough Month

Here’s our latest monthly, highly abbreviated version of the Iraq Index, published and updated twice a week by Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution:

Americans Killed in Action, Iraq (monthly average)

2003: 32
2004: 59
2005: 56
2006: 49
August: 59

Americans Killed in Action, Vietnam (weekly average)
1965:* 30
1966: 97
1967: 177
1968: 263
____
* = First U.S. combat troops arrived in Vietnam, 5.3.65
Vietnam table compiled by Galen Fox using Defense Department sources.

Note please—the Vietnam KIAs are weekly, not monthly, averages.

Crude Oil Production (m. bbls./day)

Prewar: 2.50
Goal: 2.50
actual: 2.20 (8/06)

Electricity (megawatts)

Prewar: 3,958
Goal: 6,000
actual: 4,400 (8/06)

Since our last monthly Iraq report, American KIA's are up sharply, ten above the monthly average for 2006, and oil and electricity production are down slightly. All are negative trends. While there are now more American troops in Iraq than at any time since March, troop numbers themselves don't account for August's higher death total. More troops and more deaths, however, do relate to more aggressive actions by U.S and Iraqi military to clear Baghdad of insurgents and outlaw militias.

We will need more time to evaluate the success of the effort to make Baghdad more secure. Still, total deaths in the capital city dropped to 550 in August from 1500 in July, according to Iraqi government sources.