More than 1,800 Iraqis killed in August

Yeah, this be good.

Civilian deaths rose in August to their second-highest monthly level this year, according to figures compiled Saturday by The Associated Press. That raises questions about whether U.S. strategy is working days before Congress receives landmark reports that will decide the course of the war.
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At least 81 American service members also died in Iraq during August — an increase of two over the previous month but well below the year's monthly high of 126 in May. American deaths surpassed the 80 mark during only two months of 2006.

U.S. military officials have insisted that the security plan launched early this year have brought a decrease in attacks on civilians and sectarian killings, especially in the Baghdad area, which was the focus of the new strategy.

The top American commander, Gen. David Petraeus, is expected to cite security improvements when he and Ambassador Ryan Crocker submit reports on progress toward stability and national reconciliation to Congress during the week of Sept. 10.

However, figures compiled by the AP from police reports nationwide show that at least 1,809 civilians were killed across the country last month compared with 1,760 in July. That brings to 27,564 the number of Iraqi civilians killed since AP began collecting data on April 28, 2005.

According to the AP count, civilian deaths reached a high point during the wave of sectarian bombings, kidnappings and killings at the end of last year — 2,172 in December and 1,967 in the previous month.

Via Yahoo! News.

US Marines killed Afghans after bombing-report

This should come as no surprise to anyone. Which is not to imply I think our troops are routinely or even often killing civilians in the Mid-East. It simply means it happens.

A preliminary investigation by the military says U.S. Marines killed or wounded more than 40 Afghan civilians after a suicide attack on a convoy last month, the Washington Post reported on Sunday.

The newspaper said work by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service [NCIS] would decide whether to call courts martial for the troops involved.

First off, this is what happens when you keep^* sending troops into hostile, urban environments in temperatures they can barely tolerate with insurgents who are impossible to spot. Don't forget, the insurgents have no problem spotting allied forces. Not so vice versa.

As for whether to call courts martial. That's a no brainer when the investigation found the Afghans to be unarmed civilians as was the case here. Courts martial are supposed to decide the facts of the situation. They're not automatic punishment. They're there to meet out justice.

^*And by "keep" I'm including multiple rotations. Many troops have been diagnosed as unfit to serve again and the doctors are ignored. I have no idea if that is the case with even one of these Marines, but it wouldn't surprise me.

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