Iraq

Iraq by the numbers; more bad news

The Houston Chronicle gives us the sobering reality of Bush's Folly:

• The U.S. military suffered at least 348 deaths in Iraq over the final four months of the year, more than in any other similar period since the invasion in March 2003.

• The number of wounded surpassed 10,000, with more than a quarter injured in the last four months as direct combat, roadside bombs and suicide attacks escalated. When President Bush declared May 1, 2003, that major combat operations were over, the number wounded stood at just 542.

• The number of attacks on U.S. and allied troops grew from an estimated 1,400 attacks in September to 1,600 in October and 1,950 in November. A year earlier, the attacks numbered 649 in September, 896 in October and 864 in November.

Have the White House and Pentagon revealed anything resembling a revised plan for the war? So far we've heard "elections", "more troops", and "Miss Beazley is missing!". We're alone in the dark.