When Casualties Equal Progress

With the recent increase of U.S. casualties in Iraq, many of the usual suspects are citing that statistic as proof that we are losing and need to withdraw immediately. However, this assumes that, in war, casualties always indicate failure. In his New York Daily News article, In Iraq, a Storm Before the Calm, Michael Yon explains why that is not necessarily the case. In fact, in the case of General Petraeus' surge strategy of last summer, it meant exactly the opposite. Michael's article suggests the latest spike in casualties is due to a second phase of what began last summer.


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