- An American soldier was killed and a second was injured
Tuesday when a roadside bomb went off during an operation to clear such
weapons, the U.S. military declared. The blast took place near Iskandariyah,
some 50 kilometers south Baghdad, the statement added.
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- Meanwhile, analysis of January data indicates that American
soldiers are dying at a rate of more than one a day in Iraq, despite some
commanders' recent claims to "have broken the back" of resistance.
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- According to The AP, the toll in January was 45 - five
more than in December - despite US hopes that deposed President Saddam
Hussein's capture would reduce the killings from roadside bombs and other
attacks.
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- The number of deaths in January will rise to 47 when
the Pentagon changes the status of two soldiers who are missing and believed
to have died in the Tigris River on Jan.25 . That would make the second
highest monthly total since last April when daily combat from the U.S.-led
invasion was under way.
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- All told, 528 U.S. soldiers have died in the war. The
worst month was November, when 82 died. In October there were43 , September
had30 , August 35.
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- Of 39 deaths in January that the Army attributed to "hostile
action," 23involved attacks with homemade bombs, which the military
calls "improvised explosive devices," and which have been the
resistanc's weapon of choice, according to a review of Pentagon casualty
reports.
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- The US Army has put great emphasis on defeating the threat
from homemade bombs, often detonated along roadways used by military convoys.
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- To counter this threat, more soldiers are using Humvee
utility vehicles with extra armor, and troops are wearing an improved version
of body armor that provides more protection against bomb shrapnel.
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- © 2004 Al Bawaba
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