Novahq.net Forum - An Unwelcome Milestone

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...453687,00.html

Quote:

An Unwelcome Milestone
Updated: 21:09, Tuesday October 25, 2005

http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1158658.jpg

A total of 2,000 US soldiers have now died in Iraq since the war started in the country in March 2003.

The milestone was reached when it was announced that a soldier had died in a Texas hospital of wounds from a bomb.

The Pentagon said Staff Sergeant George Alexander, 34, had died on Saturday of injuries sustained when a roadside bomb set by insurgents blew up near his vehicle in the town of Samarra on October 17.

The unwelcome milestone is expected to lead to new calls for George Bush to outline an exit strategy for the Iraqi conflict.

But the President said: "Each loss of life is heartbreaking, and the best way to honour the sacrifice of our fallen troops is to complete the mission and lay the foundation of peace by spreading freedom."

"This war will require more sacrifice, more time and more resolve."

As well as the 2,000 deaths, more than 15,000 US troops also have been wounded in action.