The 'Coalition' is Responsible

Reuters: U.S. faces Iraqi anger over raid near Kerbala

The U.S. military faced Iraqi anger on Sunday over a raid near the holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala in which a distant relative of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was killed.

"Coalition forces deeply regret the loss of life and are conducting an investigation," he said.

U.S. helicopters landed in the al-Hindiya district, just east of the southern city of Kerbala, during the raid.

The first line states that the US military faces Iraqi anger over a raid. The key word is "U.S. military."

The second line quotes Colonel Jerry O'Hara, a U.S. military spokesman as saying in response that "Coalition forces deeply regret the loss of life." The key word is "Coalition forces."

The words point to a US led raid but the apologists are the "coalition forces" through an American military spokesperson.

There is the appearance of a US led raid that went wrong killing a relative of the Maliki and then the diffusion of the act by apologizing on behalf of the "coalition."

Exactly how many active "coalition countries" are left in Iraq?

Here's a couple of facts.

American troops death in Iraq - 4113 - the most of any country.

The country with the second most troop deaths in Iraq - England with 176.

Third is Italy with 33.

Fourth is Poland with 23.

Fifth is Ukraine with 18.

Sixth is Bulgaria with 13.

Seventh is Spain with 11.

Eighth is Georgia and El Salvador with 5.