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2:26:00 PM EDT
Hearing Into Temptation -- Crowded House
Rising Numbers
The Washington Post noted yesterday that as many American soldiers have died in Iraq since May 1 when President Bush closed the chapter on major combat operations, as died during that earlier phase. Just today two more were killed in separate attacks, so now of course the number is greater.
No doubt people on either side of the political spectrum are lining up to use these figures for their own political rhetoric, but I have to wonder ultimately how useful that sort of thing will be. To begin, its vaguely odious to use the dead for a quick political jab on a Sunday morning talk show. But the other aspect of it is that the primary reasons the post-combat deaths have quickly reached the combat total is that both numbers are are small, relatively speaking: The combined deaths total fewer than 300, of which roughly half are from "non-hostile" causes.
Let's not minimize the impact or reality of any of those deaths. At the same time, fewer than 300 deaths in the invasion and occupation of a hostile country seems very low to me. As a comparison, in 2002, 125 police officers died in the line of duty in the US. The roles of policemen in the US and of soldiers occupying a foreign country are not equal, but are similar in a number of ways.
I want our troops to be safe when they're in Iraq and home as soon as practical. But I think perspective is important as well. I think it's right to mourn every American death over there. But I'm also glad those numbers have been -- so far -- so few.
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Yes they're risking their lives in Iraq, and Yes they are dying. But to mourn over every death is obsurd. that's like asking to morn everyday which can get depresing. And if you want us to do that thenwhy not mourn over every dead person? Think about that
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I am a Gulf War Vet (Desert Storm). I am glad that Saddam Hussein is gone, but I am not glad with the daily (it seems) killing of U.S. Soldiers who are putting their lives in danger for the Iraqi people. It's time to get our boys out of Iraq. The Iraqi's are not a dumb, senseless people. They can lead them selves and take care of their problems, their selves.
Any number of soldiers killed is wrong. We may not be in war, but it is still hell over there. -
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Sivar
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12/19/07 9:36 PM