posted on December 4, 2004 08:12:17 PM new
As of Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004, at least 1,269 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 988 died as a result of hostile action, the Defense Department said as of Friday. The figures include three military civilians. The department did not update its numbers Saturday.
The AP count is nine higher than the Defense Department's tally, last updated at 10 a.m. EST Friday.
The British military has reported 74 deaths; Italy, 19; Poland, 13; Spain, 11; Ukraine, nine; Bulgaria, seven; Slovakia, three; Estonia, Thailand and the Netherlands, two each; and Denmark, El Salvador, Hungary and Latvia have reported one death each.
Since May 1, 2003, when President Bush declared that major combat operations in Iraq had ended, 1,131 U.S. military members have died, according to AP's count. That includes at least 879 deaths resulting from hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
The latest deaths reported by the military:
- One U.S. soldier was killed by a roadside bomb Saturday north of Baghdad.
- One U.S. soldier was killed by an explosive Saturday in eastern Baghdad.
- Two U.S. soldiers died Friday in suicide car bombings of their post near the Jordanian border.
Now I know that there are going to be a few pro Bush war mongers that will try to justify these numbers in some way. In reality they are not justifiable.
President Bush declared on May 1, 2003 that major combat operations in Iraq had ended. However still, 1,131 U.S. military members have died. Why is that do you think? Could it be a poorly planned invasion, war, and administrative policies?
posted on December 4, 2004 08:24:24 PM new
Thank you Yeager for reminding us that there are Troops dying while some are giddy with delight over a silly holiday and a tree.
I believe that "Support the Troops" should include remembering those that died, remembering that the dying and slaughter goes on and on and on ......
but then there's those that are so happy that there'll be at least Four More Years of it!
posted on December 4, 2004 08:52:56 PM new
Yes, I believe a poster once said, the best thing that we could ever do for them is get them home. And I agree with that. I see the Army is running TV commercials now for new enlistees.
Bigots are miserable people. Prevent Bigotry through Education.
posted on December 4, 2004 09:17:33 PM new
Thank you for reminding us that while we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior and sing praises of Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men..that our sons and daughters are killing and being killed in an unholy war..far from home. Bring them home!
posted on December 5, 2004 01:11:03 AM new
With the juvenile mentality that this forum has sunk to lately, I think quite a few posters are more concerned about slamming some other male posters with crude insults about being gay or possibly being gay, than they are about any troops and innocent people being killed in a war or that their holidays may not be so joyous.
posted on December 5, 2004 05:55:45 AM new
Right, Kiara...They can't handle hearing about the number of casualties and deaths or seeing photographs of the true horrors and violence that our soldiers must endure for Bush's vicious imperialistic policy. They call the display of photographs of the dead and wounded --American soldiers, Iraqi citizens, including children unpatriotic, anti-American and even traitorous. They support hiding the caskets returning home and call it "disrespectful" to honor and recognize those soldiers.
Poor things, the neocons only want to have a happy holiday so they must focus on mindless words and symbols. Repeat the mantra, "Support the troops" and tie a yellow ribbon or stick a silly bow on your oil sucking RV. That handles that and off to the shopping center they go.
The only way to support the troops is to bring the troops home.
posted on December 5, 2004 06:30:33 AM new
And what should people do, Helen? Be in a perpetual state of mourning over it?
I dont think the soldiers are there fighting so we can sit around mopeing and being miserable, and I doubt any of them would want it that way either. As far as the caskets go everyone of those soliders get a full-fledged honorable burial for their family and loved ones - just the way it should be. You seem to think the public gawking over mass anonomous caskets makes any difference to anyone concerned. It doesnt. This is not pre-world-warII Germany. If anybody wants to be morose for the Holidays there is plenty to read and entertain oneself for that.
Here's a fact: Nothing going to change for the dead already; but there's still light and hope to be had for the living. You always seem to miss that much in your thoughts and that is your simple maladjusted choice.
edited to remove a non-erronous "s"
and some vagrant exclamation marks.
[ edited by neroter12 on Dec 5, 2004 06:34 AM ]
posted on December 5, 2004 07:02:28 AM new
Neroter, you defined the neocon view very well, I think that I mentioned how you feel or rather prefer not to feel in my previous comment and you confirmed what I said.
Now, speaking of twelvepole's mention of insurgents...Maybe you have been led to believe that insurgents are foreign terrorists and that this is a mujahedin, jihad war but it's not. They include some Iraqis loyal to Hussein but they also include Iraqis who are defending their country. Some "insurgents" are Iraqi children as young as twelve years. Would you join an effort to defend your country against an army that has killed over 100,000 innocent American citizens and destroyed your country? If so, the invading army would probably refer to you as an "insurgent".
posted on December 5, 2004 10:21:17 AM new
This has nothing to do with some of us being morose or being in a perpetual state of mourning.
It's about the reality of young men and women being sent to fight an unjust war that was based on lies. They are losing their lives or being injured so badly that it will ruin the rest of their lives forever.
Some of you may cloud that reality with thoughts over the holidays that these young people are fighting for your freedom or betterment but that's not the truth at all.
Prevent Bigotry through Education.