7,805 civilian Iraqi lives were saved by the U.S. action taken in Iraq in May. That's compared to the number of lives that would have been expected to be taken under Saddam Hussein's tyrannical rule. The Wall Street Journal estimates that Saddam was directly responsible for more than 2,000,000 deaths during his 20-year reign of terror. That averages out to 8,333 murders a month. So with 528 deaths last month, our actions in Iraq helped save 7,805 lives.

Not only does May 2008 mark the lowest number of Iraqi civilian casualties since 2005, but other key figures are up, showing improvement in nearly every sector.

Nearly twice as many Iraqis are drinking potable water and have access to proper sewage than did under Saddam's rule. More Iraqis are getting electricity for more hours a day than in Saddam's Iraq. More Iraqis have phones and 150 times more Iraqis have cell phones. And U.S. troop levels are down nearly 10% from just 8 months ago.

Iraq: Key Figures Since the War began in 2003

ELECTRICITY:

• Prewar nationwide: 3,958 megawatts. Hours per day (estimated): 4-8.
• May 26, 2008 nationwide: 4,110 megawatts. Hours per day: 9.9.

• Prewar land lines: 833,000
• April 4, 2008: 1,360,000

• Prewar cell phones: 80,000
• April 30, 2008: More than 12,000,000

WATER:

• Prewar: 12.9 million people had potable water.
• April 30, 2008: 20.9 million people have potable water.

• Prewar: 6.2 million people served.
• April 30, 2008: 11.3 million people served.

(Note: The number for sewerage has not changed in the newest SIGIR report.)

U.S. TROOP LEVELS:

• October 2007: 170,000 at peak of troop buildup.
• May 2008: 155,000

CASUALTIES:

• The Iraqi civilian casualty count so far for the month of May is at its lowest level since December 2005. According to Associated Press reporting through May 30, at least 528 Iraqis (excluding insurgents) have been killed in war-related violence. This is an average of 17 deaths per day, and is less than half of the 1,080 reported killed during April.
  
  On average 8,333 civilian Iraqis were murdered each and every month under Saddam Hussein. May's 528 figure represents a saving of 7,805 lives compared to what could have been expected under Saddam's rule.

All figures are the most recent available.

Sources: The Associated Press, State Department, Defense Department, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, The Brookings Institution, Iraq Body Count, U.N. High Commission for Refugees, Committee to Protect Journalists, National Priorities Project, The Brussels Tribunal, Department of Labor.

AP researchers Julie Reed and Rhonda Shafner in New York compiled this report