A Classified View

In May, the Pentagon accidentally released classified sections of a U.S. report on the killing of Italian intelligence officer Nicola Calipari by U.S. forces at a checkpoint along "Route Irish," the highway between the Baghdad airport and the Green Zone. The report, which revealed information about daily life on the front lines, also noted that "the U.S. considers all of Iraq a combat zone." Below are more stats from the report.

• From July 2004 to late March 2005, there were 15,257 attacks against coalition forces throughout Iraq.
• From Nov. 1, 2004, to March 12, 2005, there were 3,306 attacks in the Baghdad area. Of these, 2,400 were directed against coalition forces.
• From Nov. 1, 2004, to March 12, 2005, the "attack density" was 11.25 attacks per mile-or a minimum of one attack per day along Route Irish.
• The week of March 4, 2005, saw 166 attacks from improvised explosive devices, resulting in 82 casualties.
• From Nov. 1, 2004, to March 12, 2005, there were 135 attacks or hostile incidents that occurred along Route Irish.

Source: Department of Defense report investigating the death of Nicola Calipari at a traffic control point, March 4, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq (www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8713.htm).