Dead But Not Counted

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According to Thursday's press and television reports, 33 U.S. soldiers have died in combat since President Bush declared an end to the major fighting in the war on May 2. Actually the numbers are much worse -- and rarely reported by the media. According to official military records, the number of U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq since May 2 is actually 85. This includes a staggering number of non-combat deaths. "Even if killed in a non-hostile action, these soldiers are no less dead, their families no less aggrieved," observes Greg Mitchell. "Nevertheless, the media continues to report the much lower figure of 33 as if those are the only deaths that count. A web site called Iraq Coalition Casualty Count is tracking the deaths, by whatever cause, of U.S. military personnel in Iraq.