Number of U.S. wounded at 2004 levels

BAGHDAD, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The number of U.S. soldiers wounded in Iraq has jumped upward since a push to curb sectarian violence in Baghdad began.

In September, 776 soldiers were wounded, the highest number since November 2004, the Washington Post reports. Almost 300 more were wounded in the first week of October.

While 2,700 soldiers have been killed in Iraq, the ratio of wounded to killed is eight to one, far higher than the three to one ratio in Vietnam. Medical care is significantly better and so is military equipment.

"These days, wounded are a much better measure of the intensity of the operations than killed," Anthony H. Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington told the newspaper.

Outside of Baghdad, Marines fighting in the Sunni stronghold of Anbar Province are also experiencing high levels of casualties.

U.S. commanders have been pleading for more Iraqi troops in Baghdad, saying they need 3,000.