A roadside bomb killed an American soldier in an eastern sector of Baghdad, the military said Tuesday, taking its losses to 74 in this month alone. The bomb went off near the soldier's vehicle and injured three more soldiers.
The latest fatality brought the military's losses in Iraq since the invasion to 3,551, according to an AFP count based on Pentagon figures.
Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Lugar, a senior Republican and a reliable vote for President Bush on the war, stated Monday that Bush's Iraq strategy was not working and that the U.S. should downsize the military's role. This latest assessment deals a huge political blow to Bush, who has relied heavily on GOP support to stave off anti-war legislation.
"In my judgment, the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved," Lugar, R-Ind., said in a Senate speech. "Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term."
According to the AP, Lugar's spokesman Andy Fisher said the senator wanted to express his concerns publicly before Bush reviews his Iraq strategy in September.
