U.S. Troops Dying at Rate of Over 1 a Day

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By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON - American soldiers are dying at a rate of more than one a day in Iraq, despite some commanders' recent claims to have broken the back of the insurgency.

The toll in January was 45 _ five more than in December _ despite hopes that deposed President Saddam Hussein's capture would stop the killings from roadside bombs and other attacks.

The number of deaths in January will rise to 47 when the Pentagon changes the status of two soldiers who are missing and believed to have died in the Tigris River on Jan. 25. That would make the second highest monthly total since last April when daily combat from the U.S.-led invasion was under way.

All told, 528 U.S. troops have died in the war, including three so far this month. The worst month was November, when 82 died. In October there were 43, September had 30, August 35.

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528 American sons and daughters have died in pursuit of weapons of mass destruction that did not exist.