The steady and depressing drumbeat of US deaths and woundings in Iraq continues unabated. At 5 am on Saturday in Tikrit, guerrillas detonated a bomb in Tikrit that killed two US soldiers and wounded 4, several seriously.
On Thursday, two soldiers had been killed by a roadside bomb at Habbaniyah.
On Wednesday, guerrillas blew up a home made bomb that killed one US soldier and wounded two others.
Since the US military is going to be in Iraq in force for at least a couple of years, one worries that we really are going to lose thousands of our young men and women in this occupation, and that the number of wounded could mount to nearly 10,000 before it is all over (and they are often very badly wounded).
Juan Cole is Professor of History at the University of Michigan and the editor of International Journal of Middle East Studies.
posted on March 15, 2004 09:08:55 AM new
Since I last looked at the CNN page devoted to the killed soldiers about a week ago there have now been 13 more US soldiers who have lost their lives and many more injured.
There have been 664 coalition deaths, 564 Americans, 59 Britons, five Bulgarians, one Dane, one Estonian, 17 Italians, two Poles, 10 Spaniards, two Thai and three Ukrainian, in the war as of March 15, 2004. The casualty list below reflects the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors whose families have been notified of their deaths by each country's government. This list is updated regularly. There have been 3,190 U.S. troops wounded in the war, according to the Pentagon.
posted on March 15, 2004 09:24:53 AM new
And more soldiers will continue to die, that's what happens in a war.
Some appear to think we should be like the socialists in Spain and give the terrorists more power by caving into their demands. Like thinking if we just ignore them and their killing innocent people when we do something they don't want us to do....they'll go away and won't harm us. wrong. It's a war....either they're going to win or we're going to win.
posted on March 15, 2004 10:09:38 AM new
"In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, we came to the edge of the abyss. Then, accompanied by our equally shaken adversary, we both deliberately drew back.
On September 11, 2001, we saw the face of Armageddon again, but this time with an enemy that does not draw back. This time the enemy knows no reason. Were that the only difference between now and then, our situation would be hopeless. But there is a second difference between now and then: the uniqueness of our power, unrivaled, not just today but ever. That evens the odds.
The rationality of the enemy is something beyond our control. But the use of our power is within our control. And if that power is used wisely, constrained not by illusions and fictions but only by the limits of our mission -- which is to bring a modicum of freedom as an antidote to nihilism -- we can prevail."
posted on March 15, 2004 10:14:56 AM new
I wonder how long it will take before this turns to total war.[All gloves off] I see no way out of this for at least 50 years in Iraq never mind Iran etc.
posted on March 15, 2004 10:15:56 AM new
It absolutely amazes me that the Spaniards turned coward. I would have expected the French to cave or "open a dialog", but this is a shock.
Could you IMAGINE the US asking the Taliban government to convey our regrets to Al Queda for making them so mad they attacked us???
It's probably going to take decades more of hammering away at our schoolkids with politically correct think/speak before that happens.
For any western nation to show weakness in the face of these animals causes problems for us all. They are going to become bolder now. Spain should ruthlessly pursue them, with our help if necessary, to the ENDS of the earth.
posted on March 15, 2004 10:41:01 AM newIt's probably going to take decades more of hammering away at our schoolkids with politically correct think/speak before that happens.
Decades more? I think it's already on our doorstep. I hope I'm wrong.
6 US Soldiers Killed over Weekend, Shiites Protest Killing of Qazwini
The Associated Press reports that 6 US soldiers were killed in Iraq in roadside bombings over the past weekend. Guerrillas also detonated a bomb on the Khalis - Kirkuk road that killed two Iraqi civilians. Nine US servicemen have been killed in the past 5 days.
The same report notes that about 1000 mourners came out for the funeral in Baghad Sunday of Haidar al-Qazwini, a Shiite shopkeeper. A man had come into his shop, leaving behind a bag of explosives, which later exploded. Al-Qazwini was the brother-in-law of Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the leader of the Shiite al-Da`wa Party, who also serves on the Interim Governing Council. AP quotes Adnan Asadi, al-Jaafari's representative, as saying, ' "The aim of this criminal act is to ignite sectarian strife in the country." '
posted on March 15, 2004 12:08:22 PM new
Now there's a PC word.....guerrillas.
I've noticed that the printed news has changed from using the word terrorist to guerrillas. Reuters did so initially, but lately the AP appears to be following suit.
posted on March 15, 2004 12:21:50 PM new
guerrilla
noun
irregular soldier, usually politically motivated: a member of an irregular paramilitary unit, usually with some political objective such as the overthrow of a government. Guerrillas usually operate in small groups to harass and carry out sabotage.
terrorist
noun
somebody using violence for political purposes: somebody who uses violence or the threat of violence, especially bombing, kidnapping, and assassination, to intimidate, often for political purposes
posted on March 15, 2004 12:43:02 PM new
No helen, I never miss the fact that you anti-war people continue to use our brave soldiers deaths for your own agenda. NEVER.
posted on March 15, 2004 12:56:55 PM new
Linda, I want everyone to know that these are real people being killed and injured.
You may sit behind your screen and LOL at it all you wish but to some of us it is a sad reality that people are dying in a war that President Bush had no plans for after he invaded, a war that was based on lies.
Young soldiers and innocent people have been killed and will continue to be killed. Does it upset you that threads like this are started? It's REALITY.
posted on March 15, 2004 01:03:05 PM new
Oh yea...right....like people aren't already aware of these deaths...it's all over the media; radio, TV, news print, online. I'm sure some have missed it though, especially the people here. right
You're using their deaths to further your anti-war agenda, imo.
posted on March 15, 2004 01:13:27 PM new
twelvepole, I am not so ignorant that I care only about Canadians. I care about everyone all over the world and yes, I care about the US soldiers being killed.
Yesterday you proclaimed that you didn't care about what the rest of the world thought. Some of us do care.
Say what you may, Linda. When the empty boots were all there showing the deaths of the soldiers you were the same uncaring person that you are now.
We have opposing views on this, we probably always will. And war will continue for years to come.
But when it's an unnecessary war and one based on lies by the Bush administration to the American people and to congress then these deaths take on a significance that is especially appalling. The fact that you so nonchalantly dismiss the deaths of these good soldiers is thoroughly disgusting.
posted on March 15, 2004 01:49:44 PM newAll life loss is sad, but the numbers of deaths are very low....and are usually focused on by those who oppose war. To those of us who feel war is sometimes necessary, these deaths are accepted as the price we pay for freedom.
Those were your cold, unfeeling words on the Grim Recap thread, Linda.
I agree with Helen, take your sickening smiley faces out of here and go snicker at the deaths somewhere else.
posted on March 15, 2004 01:53:39 PM new
Oh look....we now have two anti-war women who appear to not support freedom of speech. If you say anything they don't like they tell you to leave.
Now that's REALLY funny.
Nope....not going anywhere. You can just use your ignore button.
posted on March 15, 2004 01:56:02 PM new
Good for you Kiara! Yes, some of us care about what goes on in other countries. Is that wrong? And the problem isn't soldiers dying - it's soldiers dying for no reason in a war that's not going to end.
Twelve, as I said before, most countries saw the Iraq war as premature, if necessary at all. Those countries ended up being right, whether you see that or not.
posted on March 15, 2004 02:01:33 PM new these deaths are accepted as the price we pay for freedom.
Rhetorical question: If we weren't sending US troops to die in Iraq, approximately how much less free would we be now?
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posted on March 15, 2004 02:08:55 PM new
Isn't it laughable Prof? I'd like to know what freedoms these people refer to? Besides a limited amount of free speech, what other freedoms are there?
posted on March 15, 2004 02:18:16 PM new
Yes kraft, the rest of the world was right all along.
Linda, I never put anyone on ignore.
But isn't that what your President admits to doing? He puts the world on ignore, brags that he doesn't read a newspaper and only gets viewpoints from a few people and now look at the mess everyone is in.
posted on March 15, 2004 02:41:42 PM new
Well Kraft lets see.
How about the freedom of not being gassed.
Or the freedom of not being tortured by Saddams boys.
Or the freedom to have computers with internet access.
Or the freedom of being drafted as cannon fodder for Saddam.
The Democrats ran on 'Honesty' and I told 'em at the time they would never get anywhere. It was too radical for politics. The Republicans ran on 'Common Sense' and the returns showed that there were 8 million more people in the United States who had 'Common Sense' enough not to believe that there was 'Honesty' in politics." --Will Rogers
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