Media blackout: The Iraq War rages on

President Bush must be thanking his dim stars that the Democratic election has become so heated it’s taken precedence over any news about the ongoing Iraq quagmire. In fact, one the biggest Iraq stories in the news this week came only when Bush told reporters he gave up golf because of the Iraq War. Families give up sons and daughters. Soldiers give up limbs and minds. Bush gives up a game.

Despite the lack of attention it’s received of late, violence continues to escalate in the region. Both the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs release new numbers every week regarding deaths, casualties, and VA patients. Below is a breakdown of the current toll of the Iraq War.

Minnesota deaths: 60

Minnesota casualties: 502

Total confirmed U.S. deaths as of May 16, 2008:: 4,077

Number of deaths since Jan 1, 2008: 162

Total listed as wounded in action as of May 3, 2008: 30,004

Number evacuated due to injury or illness: 32,248

Number of soldiers from both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to suffer from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): More than 320,000, or about 20 percent of all soldiers deployed, nearly all which are not listed as WIA by the DoD and are only diagnosed later.

Number of vets diagnosed with PTSD: 300,000, or about 18 percent of all soldiers deployed.

Sources: Department of Defense, the Associated Press, Veterans for Common Sense, icasualties.org