US Iraq casualties rise to 52, 590

US military occupation forces suffered at least 122 combat casulties in the week ending March 2, as total casualties reached at least 52,590.The total includes 26,338 killed or wounded by what the Pentagon classifies as "hostile" causes and 26,152 (as of Feb 3, a month old) from "non-hostile" causes such as accidents, suicides and illness serious enough to require medical evacuation.

US media divert attention from the actual cost in American life and limb by routinely reporting only the total killed (3,166) as of March 2 and rarely mentioning the 23,785 wounded in combat. To further minimize public perception of the cost, they cover for the Pentagon by ignoring the 25, 539 military victims who suffered "non-hostile" injuries and illness (as of Feb 3), although the 3,166 reported deaths includes 613 (up one from last week) who died from those same causes. Another 154 American "contractors" have also been killed since they invaded Iraq.

Although not defined as "casualties" since they have been discharged from active duty, as of July 20, 2006, a total of 152,669 U.S. military veterans of Iraq and Afganistan had filed disability claims, over 100,000 of which had been granted.