2007 is the deadliest year for U.S. Troop Casualties

The report of five more U.S. soldiers in Iraq brings 2007 as the deadliest year for U.S. troop casualties. At least 853 American military personnel have died in Iraq so far this year -- the highest annual toll since the war began in March 2003, according to AP figures.

Also Tuesday, the U.S. military said Iraqi troops had discovered 22 bodies in a mass grave northwest of Baghdad over the weekend. The bodies were found during a joint operation Saturday. It was the second mass grave found in the area in less than a month.

While casualty rates for U.S. troops have recently dropped Americans still disapprove of the war. Fifty-nine percent still don't think the United States is making significant progress restoring civil order there, and a record six in 10 want the level of U.S. forces reduced. All told, 63 percent say the war was not worth fighting, almost exactly its average this year, and a majority, steadily since December 2004. Intensity against the war continues to run high, with 51 percent saying they feel "strongly" that it was not worth fighting, more than double its strong supporters.

The question is how has the violence affected civilian casualties of ordinary Iraqis? The answer is complicated, but some evidence can be gleaned form the Iraq body count web page. There is no doubt an improvement has occurred in the last couple of months both in U.S. casualties, but also in civilian casualties. It is important to place the events of 2007 in context, [however]. Levels of violence reached an all-time high in the last six months of 2006. Only in comparison to that could the first half of 2007 be regarded as an improvement. Despite any efforts put into the surge, the first six months of 2007 was still the most deadly first six months for civilians of any year since the invasion. Therefore, when comparing the violence to the most deadly time period in Iraq, today there is a decrease in the violence, however when compared to any other time during the war this time period would be seen as deadly violent. Go here for more information on civilian deaths in Iraq. The number ranges anywhere from 76,000 to 83,000 +

For example, on the Iraq body count page it gives the previous day's violence. Twenty-eight people were reported killed. Baghdad: 5 killed in Baladiyat, Ghadeer, Zafaraniya, Jamia; 3 bodies. Balad Ruz: 2 policemen killed in clashes with gunmen; 5 bodies found in river. Mosul: gunmen kill government employee; 7 bodies. Tikrit-Dour: 2 bodies found on highway...the list continues.