76 GIs Die in Iraq Since April 1, 26 Over Weekend

This morning’s announcement by the Pentagon brought the total killed in the last twelve days to 76 US soldiers, including 26 killed in the last three days.

CNN posted this story this morning, but moved this important part of the story down to the bottom, giving new top billing to the seven Halliburton employees missing in Iraq.

Here is the key part of the story (now at the end of the posted story.

Record death toll in April
New U.S. military figures released Monday showed April to be the deadliest month ever for American soldiers engaging in hostile action in Iraq since the war began a year ago.

At least 76 American troops have died in hostile action this month in Iraq, according to the U.S. military.

More U.S. troops died in November — 81 — but 12 of those were in non-hostile incidents.

In the past three days, 26 of the 76 troops died, the military said Monday.

Those deaths include three Marines who were killed in fighting west of Baghdad on Sunday, according to the Coalition Public Information Center.

The Marines, assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, died Sunday during “security and stability operations” in Al Anbar province, CPIC said. Two of the Marines were killed in action, while the third died of his wounds later in the day, according to Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt.

“With regards to why the Marines are there, it’s because they fought for those, they bled for those and in some cases they died for those positions,” Kimmitt said. “And they don’t give up ground that easy.”

Al Anbar province includes Fallujah, the site of fierce battles between American forces and Iraqi insurgents. Top coalition officials are working to achieve a lasting cease-fire with the insurgents.

Also Sunday, two crew members of an Apache attack helicopter died when they were shot down by surface-to-air missile fire west of Baghdad International Airport, senior coalition military officials said.

Thirteen of the 23 dead American soldiers were killed Friday, the coalition said. Four servicemen died Saturday and another nine died Sunday, the U.S. military said.

The deaths bring the number of U.S. troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom to 674 — 480 hostile and 194 non-hostile, according to the U.S. military.

President Bush spoke to reporters Sunday at Fort Hood, Texas, where he spent part of the Easter holiday visiting troops.

“I know what we’re doing in Iraq is right,” Bush said.

“It was a tough week last week, and my prayers and thoughts are with those who pay the ultimate price for our security,” the president said.