Troops surviving more wounds in Iraq war

Since the war began in March, 218 U.S. troops have been killed in action and 1,609 wounded by enemy fire, a ratio of 7.38 to one. Many of the wounded would likely have died before the advent of body armor and the new medical practices, experts say.

Because of the way guerrilla fighters are attacking American forces — with rocket-propelled grenades and land mines — some of the injuries have resulted in amputations or other serious injuries, but not death.

The ratio of wounded-to-killed has improved even more since May 1, when President Bush declared major* combat over. As of Thursday, 1,058 U.S. troops had been wounded and 104 killed by enemy fire since May 1, more than 10 wounded to every one killed.

* EL - Memory molding, both the carrier signs and the White House website asserted Combat Was Over. Revised several weeks later in the face of continued casualties. Much as in the reframe of finding the people who endangered Americans and CIA operations quickly changed to stop the leakers. The other major reframe anti-abortion and abortion became pro-life and partial-birth abortion. Another being estate taxes becoming death taxes and on-and-on. GOP has more money for PR research and talking-point coordination.

Note also that Army-Times readers are not particularly supported of re-electing Bush, Dean is even worse, but GW coming in third behind Clark and Edwards? Right now you can vote at the bottom of the page here to push up Dean.