So-called friendly fire deaths -- when troops accidentally fire on allies or their own units -- are counted among combat deaths.

CNN: Coalition deaths fewer than in 1991

The figures take into account both combat and non-combat deaths.

BBC: US deaths in Iraq rise sharply in May

Americans are ferociously well organized, but there is very little political tolerance for combat deaths in this country, so Americans on the ground have done very little fighting in Afghanistan.

CNN: Sebastian Junger: The bin Laden tape and the war in Afghanistan

Combat deaths last month were 86% lower than in May 2007, and General Petraeus has indicated that it is safe enough to begin withdrawing some troops from Iraq in the near future.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: War without end in Afghanistan

The more Obama fills newspaper headlines with allegations that Israel is responsible for everything from US combat deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan to Iran's nuclear program, the lower those numbers can be expected to fall.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Why Obama is waging war on Israel

Detectives are now flown in to investigate all deaths reported in combat.

ECONOMIST: ?lvaro Uribe's Colombia