December 2006 is second worst for U.S. troops in Iraq so far; Bush proves he's still an idiot

With the execution of Saddam Hussein, and as we prepare to wrap up 2006, I've been reporting all day on the disturbing statistics this year regarding U.S. military, and Iraqi citizen deaths in Iraq. So far in 2006, December has been the deadliest month (this year) for U.S. military service members in Iraq, AND the deadliest since May 2005 for Iraqi citizens.

I also posted earlier today, a detailed list of statistics regarding U.S. military and Iraqi citizen deaths which showed that December was the fourth deadliest since the start of combat in March 2003. Tonight however, with the death of yet another American soldier in Iraq, December 2006 is now the third deadliest month since the start of combat in March 2003, with total number of deaths this month at 107.

2,994 American military members have now been killed as a result of the war, and the Bush administration wants you to know, that the execution of Saddam Hussein will do nothing to halt the violence in Iraq:

President Bush said Friday that Saddam Hussein's execution marks the "end of a difficult year for the Iraqi people and for our troops" and cautioned that his death will not halt the violence in Iraq.

Yet, Bush said in a statement issued from his ranch in Texas, "it is an important milestone on Iraq's course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain and defend itself, and be an ally in the war on terror."

In a message of assurance to the people of Iraq, Bush said the execution was a reminder of how far the Iraqi people have come since the end of Saddam's rule.

How far they've come? With violence doing nothing but ESCALATING in Iraq, and the country falling into CIVIL WAR, I would hardly say that much, if any progress has been made in the country.

Bush went on to use his tired old "scare tactic" method by trying to tie the war in Iraq to the security of Americans as individuals:

"Many difficult choices and further sacrifices lie ahead," he said. "Yet the safety and security of the American people require that we not relent in ensuring that Iraq's young democracy continues to progress."

Give me a break, anyone still buying into this crap needs to be given a serious mental evaluation.

UPDATE: Alright, seems there are some conflicting reports tonight, the Associated Press says that four additional U.S. service members have been killed bringing the total for December to 108, and the overall total to 2,997. Regardless, December will go down as the deadliest month in 2006, and the third deadliest month overall since the start of combat in Iraq in March, 2003.

UPDATE #2: Reuters has the number at 2,996.