U.S. toll in March is twice Iraq forces

Are the Iraqis stepping up or stepping back? I'm going with back.

The U.S. military death toll in March, the first full month of the security crackdown, was nearly twice that of the Iraqi army, which American and Iraqi officials say is taking the leading role in the latest attempt to curb violence in the capital, surrounding cities and Anbar province, according to figures compiled on Saturday.

I'm being somewhat facetious here because the story lists 81 US military deaths as opposed to 44 Iraqi Army deaths which makes that headline off just a bit because it isn't the forces, but rather the army and twice 44 ain't 81. But then it goes on to state 165 Iraqi police were killed, many of them operating as paramilitary fighters.

I would argue anyone fighting for the Iraqi government falls under the category Iraq forces.

Totally off topic, but why do reporters write about the US Army, but write about the Iraqi army without the capital letter? Are they any less noble nor deserving of respect because they aren't in one of our uniforms?

And while I'm nit picking here, why is it Iraqi [A]rmy, but Iraq forces instead of Iraqi forces?

Sometimes I relish an honest display of my ignorance.

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