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: 58
December: 91
Americans Killed in Action, Vietnam (monthly average)
1965:* 128
1966: 420
1967: 767
1968: 1140
1969: 785
____
* = First U.S. combat troops arrived in Vietnam, 5.3.65
Vietnam table compiled by Galen Fox using Defense Department sources.
Crude Oil Production (m. bbls./day)
Prewar: 2.50
Goal: 2.50
actual: 2.15 (12/06)
Electricity (megawatts)
Prewar: 3,958
Goal: 6,000
actual: 3,500 (12/06)
Since our last monthly Iraq report, American KIA's rose significantly above November's 57; high enough to make 2006 the war's second w0rst year. The mainstream media closely covered the sharp rise in KIA's, suggeting that the deadly trend might make December 2006's worst month (in the end, October was worse). December was a bad month, and 2006 a bad year.
Oil production in December rose slightly, yet remains below pre-war levels. Electricity output declined, but that drop is partly seasonal; December electricity production was higher than in December 2005.
Al Qaeda's February bombing of the Shiite Al Askari Mosque set off a wave of sectarian bloodshed that proved to be Iraq 2006's major story.
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