Meanwhile back in Iraq.....

....The slaughter of America's finest continues.
Five U.S. Marines Killed in Western Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A roadside bomb attack killed five U.S. Marines and gunfire killed an American sailor in a western Iraqi town, the U.S. military said Thursday.

The U.S. deaths came amid an upsurge in violence appeared to be aimed at derailing stepped up efforts by Shiite politicians to bring the disaffected Sunni Arab minority into the political process.

But things are getting better, right?

Average US Deaths per Day by Month in 2005

Jan......4.1
Feb......2.14
Mar......1.29
Apr......1.73
May......2.84
Jun......3.06

Deaths of both Iraqis and US soldiers have increase since a brief downturn during and shortly after the election.