Five years ago, President Bush called out Iraqi insurgents, telling them to “Bring ‘em on!” and they did.

The only thing that has changed the rates of US fatalities seems to be a cease-fire in recent months by the forces of Moqtada al-Sadr. Evidence suggests that he is using this time to rebuild his organization, and to build ties to Iran.

Since Bush invited anti-occupation forces to “Bring ‘em on!,” nearly 4,000 American soldiers have died in Iraq, with roughly 29,000 wounded. The number of Iraqis killed directly by the fighting, or indirectly through stress, disease, and weakened infrastructure is hard to say, but is probably over three quarters of a million by now.

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