Surging Backward

The results of the Bush surge in Iraq are pouring in:

Willard M. Powell-Kerchief, 21, Shawn D. Hensel, 20, Jacob M. Thompson, 26, Nicholas A. Gummersall, 23, Juan M. Alcantara, 22, Kareem R. Khan, 20, Fernando Santos, 29, Cristian Rojas-Gallego, 24, Eric D. Salinas, 25, Zachariah J. Gonzalez, 23, Charles T. Heinlein, Jr., 23, Alfred H. Jairala, 29, Jason M. Kessler, 29, and Michael Baloga, 21.

All are troops with Washington connections, and are included in our latest monthly War Dead update. It was published Thursday, yet already waiting to be added in the next update are Adrian M. Elizalde, 30, Michael J. Tully, 33, Corry P. Tyler, 29, Paul J. Flynn, 28, Matthew L. Tallman, 30, and Rickey L. Bell, 21. 

They are, as of this hour, among the 3,737 U.S. troops killed in Iraq and bring to 240 the number of state-connected troops to die there, 93 this year. That's three times the 2006 toll. That's also an annual record with four months still to go. 

"Bring 'em on," and on, and on...