LDT: Deadly October...already


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LOU DOBBS: Michael Ware reports tonight from Baghdad on the worsening violence in Iraq. Three and a half years after the beginning of the war.



We turn first to Michael Ware in Baghdad. Michael?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lou, with only three days gone, October is already a bloody month for U.S. forces here in Iraq. Twelve U.S. servicemen have died, all but one from hostile fire.

This is on the back of the previous month when 73 U.S. servicemen were killed: soldiers, marines and sailors. This is coming at a time of increased violence during the traditional Ramadan offensive, during the Muslim holy month. This is the fourth Ramadan offensive since the fall of Saddam's regime. We are seeing attacks on the rise across the board, suicide bombings are at high levels.

Last week U.S. military general spokesman -- Major General William Caldwell described it as a tough week. We're waiting to see how he describes this week. Meanwhile, violence against Iraqi civilians continues unabated. We have been seeing Iraqis dying at the rate of 2,000 or 3,000 a month on average. Today in the capital alone, 30 more executed and tortured bodies were found. Seven other civilians were wounded in bombings. That does not include figures from the rest of the country.

In the meantime, the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki announced a four point plan to bring security, however much of it we have seen before. The essence of the prime minister's plan is the establishment of committees on three levels.

At a local level, a city level and a media monitoring committee. The politicians likely to be involved in these committees do not represent the Sunni insurgency and in fact many of them represent the militias which are currently embedded within this government and who are responsible for many of the death squads creating much of the violence. Lou?

DOBBS: Michael Ware reporting from Baghdad.