4,000 Dead

Posted By: Patricia L Johnson
Posted on: Mar. 23, 2008 at 11:11 PM

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By Patricia L Johnson

The press seems to think that 4,000 dead in Iraq is some sort of magical number that needs to be appropriately splashed across every newspaper from sea to shining sea.

I disagree; there is nothing magical, or new, about 4,000 dead. Our press is so damn busy counting bodies in Iraq they consistently fail to count the number of soldiers that have lost lives or limbs in Afghanistan.

I guess if you lose your life in Afghanistan it’s no big deal – it’s not “THE WAR” – unfortunately that doesn’t make these soldiers any less dead, they are still dead and the loss is still mourned by their families in exactly the same way that the loses in Iraq are mourned.

Using the latest casualty figures from the Department of Defense there are 4,474 dead and 31,349 wounded for a total casualty count of 35,823. The figures represent casualties through 10:00 AM on March 21, 2008 for Iraq (OIF) and through 10:00 AM on March 15, 2008 for Afghanistan (OEF).

Tags: war 2008 wounded Afghanistan

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Average American

Mar. 26, 2008 at 08:33:33 PM

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Great point Patricia.

But the press isn't up in arms about the war in Afghanistan. It was launched in response to the 9/11 attacks.

It is the news cycle that must be fed and any illusion of distress sells.

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indie616

Mar. 26, 2008 at 08:54:08 PM

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[This is a reply to comment by Average American on Mar. 26, 2008 at 08:33:33 PM]

Average American
Mar. 26, 2008 at 08:33:33 PM

Great point Patricia.
But the press isn't up in arms about the war in Afghanistan. It was launched in response to the 9/11 attacks.
It is the news cycle that must be fed and any illusion of distress...

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AA, the American people aren't up in arms about the deaths we have suffered in Afghanistan because we know that is where the enemy came from.

Now, many of us are distressed because we know that the Iraq debacle took resources away from the Afghanistan war and moved them to the Iraq debacle.

5 years in Iraq. 4000 dead. And the USA is no closer to leaving there then we were on the infamous day that George W. Bush told us "Mission Accomplished."

And because of the diversion, we are losing ground in Afghanistan.

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Patricia L Johnson

Mar. 27, 2008 at 09:39:39 AM

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To: AA

What is sad about this whole thing is that the deaths are't concentrated in either Iraq and/or Afghanistan, they're spread all over the middle east and there's no end in sight. Unless a Democrat gets in office in November, this never-ending war is going to be a never-ever-ending war and as each day passes more and more resources that could be used at home are being used to 'keep the peace'. Each month that goes by requires more and more financial resources to maintain the status quo and we're losing ground.

The following is from the Department of Defense

* OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM includes casualties that occurred on or after March 19, 2003 in the Arabian Sea, Bahrain, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Persian Gulf, Qatar, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Prior to March 19, 2003, casualties in these countries were considered OEF.

*** OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (In and Around Afghanistan), includes casualties that occurred in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.

**** OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (Other Locations), includes casualties that occurred in Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Yemen.

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Patricia L Johnson

Mar. 27, 2008 at 09:48:01 AM

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[This is a reply to comment by indie616 on Mar. 26, 2008 at 08:54:08 PM]

indie616
Mar. 26, 2008 at 08:54:08 PM

AA, the American people aren't up in arms about the deaths we have suffered in Afghanistan because we know that is where the enemy came from.
Now, many of us are distressed because we know that the Iraq debacle took resources away from the...

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To: indie616

We just sent an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan last month because things are deterioriating so badly over there.

We took on a war against people that we do not understand and we simply do not have the resources to win.

It was May 1, 2003 when Bush stood on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln and declared "Mission Accomplished". Since that date tens of thousands of our soldiers have become casualties, and tens of thousands of Iraqi's are dead and there is still no end in sight.

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Free Thinker

Mar. 27, 2008 at 10:50:49 AM

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I heard an interesting pile of statistics on a local station here in Phoenix that talked about the number of deaths that the U.S. suffered during all of its wars and conflicts. What was glaring was that in the grand scale of wars/conflicts, we have lost a lot less people! Even as a percentage of the number that were in the theater of war/conflict.

Where I think the disdain comes from is that the American population is seeing that the war in Iraq is for the wrong reasons!!! They are seeing each death and wounded soldier as a loss that can never be brought back.

Throughout history, there are wars/conflicts that are worth it. The American people are not interested in loosing any more people in this mess! They just don't believe it is worth it. I personally don't. We are wasting lives and a ton of money in Iraq when we should be tracking down Osama bin Laden up in Afghanistan! I still have issues with the technology that we have that we have not been able to get that guy, but that is a different story.

Patricia, I think that is why the media is focusing on Iraq. They know that it is wrong as well and they are highlighting it.

One sadly interesting fact that is coming out of this war is that the number of wounded, as a percentage, is actually higher. That is due to the advanced medical procedures that available in the field. We actually are having fewer deaths as a percentage. Sadly, we as a Country are not helping these brave and dedicated soldiers when they come home.

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Patricia L Johnson

Mar. 27, 2008 at 03:00:09 PM

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[This is a reply to comment by Free Thinker on Mar. 27, 2008 at 10:50:49 AM]

Free Thinker
Mar. 27, 2008 at 10:50:49 AM

I heard an interesting pile of statistics on a local station here in Phoenix that talked about the number of deaths that the U.S. suffered during all of its wars and conflicts. What was glaring was that in the grand scale of wars/conflicts, we have...

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To: Free Thinker

A couple weeks ago I was looking at the statistics on all the wars and what I think they'll find out about this one is long term losses are going to far exceed those of other wars.

We have no business in Iraq; we have never had any business in Iraq. We, as a country, can not determine what is best for another country - it's none of our business, and almost all the reasons for going were lies - not just the fact there were no WMD's, but everything about Iraq. The equal rights amendment in this country has never been passed, yet the women in Iraq did have equal rights under Saddam Hussein. They were also highly educated because of the fact that Saddam Hussein made education mandatory for both men and women (due in part to the major loss of males during the Iraq/Iran war). There are more Ph.D's in Iraq than in any other country in the Middle East.

I wish it was true that the media was focusing on Iraq - they're not. When there is a milestone of some sort they focus on the country, otherwise they hide their heads in the sand and go on about their business.

It's not only advances in medical treatments that are keeping our troops alive, it's a combination of many things, including advanced armored vehicles, bullet proof this and that and clothing that is almost impenetrable.

We're having a lower percentage of deaths and a much higher percentage of serious injuries where the soldier is kept alive, under conditions that many would choose not to live under. When you add in the scars that you can't see, in the form of PTSD, we have a horrific mess on our hands. At last count the VA determined roughly 1 in 3 were coming home with PTSD symptoms, to a system that has yet made arrangements to care for the hundreds of thousands that came back from Vietnam with severe PTSD.

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Free Thinker

Mar. 27, 2008 at 04:14:15 PM

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Patricia,

I do not disagree with you at all! I too think that the long term losses are going to be huge! My point was that the main stream media was trying to portray it in comparison to other events and I am not sure that you can make those types of arguments. The only other war that comes close to the type of tactics that are going on is Vietnam. This is such an unconventional war that those who have been trained in traditional tactical warfare and having to really rethink the process of the actions in Iraq!

You also made a great point that the VA hasn't even taken care of the Vietnam Vets yet. It is staggering the number of these soldiers that have not been taken care of out here in Phoenix. The VA Hospital is understaffed and over worked! It takes months to get in there and the doctors simply can not give the quality of time to these individuals that they deserve. These doctors have to do their practice like it was a MASH unit. Not a great way to treat the people that have put their lives on the line to defend our Country.

What you say about the media is better stated. I did not convey it properly. Today's consolidated media doesn't take the time to do real journalism. They simple get the headlines and have a talking head read them.

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William

Mar. 27, 2008 at 04:38:24 PM

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Crum for Congress and double the VA budget in 2009. No more Iraq or anywhere else in the middle east.

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www.MoronInCharge.com

Mar. 27, 2008 at 05:12:50 PM

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[This is a reply to comment by William on Mar. 27, 2008 at 04:38:24 PM]

William
Mar. 27, 2008 at 04:38:24 PM

Crum for Congress and double the VA budget in 2009. No more Iraq or anywhere else in the middle...

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Did you say on Jeff's show yesterday that Arizona is 51st in the nation in education? That is low!!!

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prometheus

Mar. 27, 2008 at 06:05:35 PM

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I thought Arizona was 50th and Mississippi was 51st?????

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