In other news, this still sucks

Swept under the rug today -- tragically:

Eight U.S. service members were killed in two attacks today in Iraq, making it the deadliest day against the military this year, a senior American military official in Baghdad said. At least 11 Iraqis also were killed Monday in a surge of attacks throughout the country.

Five of the Americans died when a suicide bomber walked up to a foot patrol in Baghdad and self-detonated. The others died while on a patrol in Diyala province, the official said. He asked not to be identified as he isn't an official spokesman.

The rash of attacks against a spectrum of targets raised new questions about whether the U.S. can draw down its presence from the current buildup to levels of about a year ago.

So far this month, Iraq is on close to a pace for this month to be the first 4-digit death month for civilians in the country since August 2007. Just this February death's spiked up more than one-third.

All despite the Mahdi Army holding to a tenuous truce.