May was one of the bloodiest months of the Iraq War for United States soldiers, with 124 soldiers (http://icasualties.org/oif/prdDetails.aspx?hndRef=5-2007) dying in Iraq during the month. May's death toll was the third deadliest behind April of 2004 (135) (http://icasualties.org/oif/prdDetails.aspx?hndRef=4-2004) and November of 2004 (137) (http://icasualties.org/oif/prdDetails.aspx?hndRef=11-2004), both of which involved bloody assaults on the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

News of the death toll comes shortly after Congress voted to continue funding the war through September and as Bush administration officials have asserted that they support "a Korea model" for Iraq in which the United States would keep troops in Iraq indefinitely. The death toll also raises questions about the much anticipated "surge," which is now largely believed to have failed in its objective quelling violence in Iraq. "The surge" has brought some of the bloodiest months of the war for Iraqi civilians, while government numbers show that it has failed to reduce attacks in Iraq. Discussion among war supporters concerned that "the surge" is not politically sustainable has increased in recent weeks as military commanders have admitted that there has been little progress in Iraq.