There are formidable risks in trying to cover this conflict. Large swaths of the country are simply too dangerous to cover.

You can never have 100 percent security in any war zone. News organizations that are covering Iraq are constantly trying to mitigate the risk. In terms of expenditure on the safety of journalists, it's probably the most expensive conflict in history, and the casualty toll is reflective of the danger.

In our estimation, Iraq remains the most dangerous assignment for journalists today.

It's a fresh reminder of just how dangerous it is for all journalists. Whether they are Iraqis or foreign, independent or embedded, the dangers do not discriminate.

This is one of the deadliest conflicts in modern history for media professionals. In addition to those killed, many others have been wounded or narrowly averted death.

These cases set a terrible precedent and are sure to make any Iraqi journalist think twice before writing about powerful political figures.