By James Warden, Stars and Stripes
In April 2007, Baghdad was ramping up for what would become the cityÂ’s deadliest month for U.S. soldiers. Americans had flooded the city as part of the "surge." Insurgents, including Mahdi Army militia members, werenÂ’t happy.The 51 American deaths during the ensuing fighting made April the worst month in the city up to that point, and more than twice as bad as just two months earlier. The casualties would keep climbing into May and June, when 59 soldiers died in each of those months.
In April "American deaths" were 42 KIA in the entire country, plus additional 10 died in non-hostile circumstances. Two months before 29 died, Aprils losses would have to exceeded 58 to be more than "twice as bad". I may there were 19 deaths and June recorded 29 deaths, not 59 soldiers in "each of those months".
April was the same month that American soldiers with 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment allegedly took at least four suspected Mahdi Army members to the side of a Baghdad canal, lined up the blindfolded and handcuffed prisoners and shot them in the head. (The battalion has since been redesignated 1st Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade.)