Overstating the death count...

[Ellipsis]

Iraq (US only) military deaths count:3003
Vietnam (US only) military deaths count:47,424
Korea (US only) military deaths count:33,741
WWI (US only) military deaths count:53,402
WWII (US only) military deaths count:407,300


Let the numbers speak...

[Krill]

I thought it was civilian casualties everyone was making a fuss about.

[Kilby]

It seems the purpose of the war is disputed and not clearly articulated by its proponents much of the time. Many people will feel each death is for a cause that is bereft of meaning.

Consequently, people with this feeling, when learning of a death, will feel in addition to the usual reverence and gratitude for the soldier's sacrifice, a deep resentment and contempt for the sitaution at hand.

Looking at the other wars you mentioned, the mistakes made in these wars are now brought to the forefront by opponents of the current war. These opponents are wary (and some would say weary) of the same mistakes committed in those past wars.

Many also say the volunteer army is threatened by unnecessary foreign conflicts.

Some of the wars from the past were seen by the general population as more necessary. The survival of the nation was at stake.

These are a few of the reasons why the comparatively low death rate now is seen in a different light. Others are not happy about the 20,000+ wounded either, I'm sure.

[DevNull]

It seems the purpose of the war is disputed

The purpose of this war is a matter of Congressional record. Congress voted on it.

Would you like a link?

[zhang_bob]

I thought it was civilian casualties everyone was making a fuss about.That surely depends if your politically right-wing or left-wing. :think:

[dubbeltop]

Overstating the death count...

Lets not forget the american army have a mix of forces at their dollar filled fists:

a)the regular US army 3003
b)foreign contractors aka mercenaries 600
c)the official iraqi army 20000
d)the non official iraqi army aka death squads 400
e)Donald Rumsfeld, although his role is somewhat dubious....... 1

3003
600
20000
400
1
--------=
a lot more bang for your buck...so..thats my view

[demagogic_schizoid]

Iraq (US only) military deaths count:3003
Vietnam (US only) military deaths count:47,424
Korea (US only) military deaths count:33,741
WWI (US only) military deaths count:53,402
WWII (US only) military deaths count:407,300


Let the numbers speak...


If you're going to compare the death count for WWII and the War on Terror, maybe you should try comparing the death count for the holocaust on one hand, and 9/11, the event which started it all, on the other.

[Brad324]

If you're going to compare the death count for WWII and the War on Terror, maybe you should try comparing the death count for the holocaust on one hand, and 9/11, the event which started it all, on the other.

9/11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iraq.
9/11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iraq.
9/11. . . . . . . . Iraq.
9/11. . Iraq.

9/11. Iraq.

The more you say them together, the more they feel connected.

[ptGatsby]

If you're going to compare the death count for WWII and the War on Terror, maybe you should try comparing the death count for the holocaust on one hand, and 9/11, the event which started it all, on the other.

Now now, that's not really fair. No one cared about the holocaust before WWII started... Not that it really existed the way it did at the end of the war. Just like 9/11 and Iraq have nothing in common.

But then again, it seems like the 15:1 ratio of lost troops to civilians killed has been far exceeded, in terms of US troops. But include some russians (just a few) and the rest of the world, and that ~5:1 ratio has been blown through quite a few times.

But what matters are the US troops, cause war is all about those that signed on for it, never for the ones being shot at.



9/11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iraq.
9/11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iraq.
9/11. . . . . . . . Iraq.
9/11. . Iraq.

9/11. Iraq.

The more you say them together, the more they feel connected.

:D

Kinda like how the more you say Saddam was Hitler and Iraq is like WW2, the less foolish it seems to start to sound.

[The Concertinist]

If you're going to compare the death count for WWII and the War on Terror, maybe you should try comparing the death count for the holocaust on one hand, and 9/11, the event which started it all, on the other.

Jewish persecution did not start WWII. The German invasion of Poland started it. Had Germany never invaded Poland, I don't think any countries would have gone to war over jewish persecution. If you don't believe me, look at US newspapers during that time period. We were aware of the jewish situation, but stories about it were tiny and buried deep in the middle of the papers. Most soldiers (US anyway) weren't even aware of the concentration camps until they were able to push into Germany itself, which was, of course, well into the war.

[Ellipsis]

It really doesn't matter what happened that causes deaths (or how many) it just has to be flashy, do I see US army kicking out fast food chains for perpetuating a list of deaths possible millions more then Iraq on an issue that is much more connected to the problem then"Iraq....9/11"...the answer is no. As well I am sick of the whole solider is great attitude...ok what's the deal? solider is a job, they make MONEY... oh yes they give us freedom and what ever else and i truly respect that but fact is that other persons contribute much more(or as much) to your personal safety, if there where not writers would people know about things that have resulted from brutal regimes and unjust wars. not to mention the soldier's contribution is to be the hand of whatever government is in power, soldiers have been used by the worst dictators in history why? Certainly not because of their outstanding moral contribution but because they can carry a gun.

As for civilian causalities, I can laugh my head off...the war has caused more deaths to the Iraq people (and/or insurgents as they like to call them) then would have happened without the war. As for spreading freedom everyone should agree that is all bogus by now, spreading freedom, at least to me does not involve conforming an entire society to a particular view of freedom. How about freedom from war? How about freedom from fear or terror? Freedom ...freedom to the west now means the freedom to wealth, and wealth leads to a freedom of power. As well I did not see the US "invade" Rwanda, Sudan and of course Bosnia( no that was not on their agenda, although they did provide "assistance", they did not "invade" ) But when little oil rich Kuwait was attacked, of course Saddam can't attack that jewel of freedom, no that would not be right.

Now beyond all those anti-war/American statements what I am talking about is how the media has totally gone off on a crusade presenting soldiers on TV, basically giving propaganda. Because there is no other excuse then to say think about the solider, you are disrespecting the soldier. This is not the soldier's war, or people's war this is the war for some little far off nation which half of the American public didn't even think of prior to it's invasion. Honestly, most people even now give maybe two minute's thought to the nation itself, maybe during the news, and whats that news story about? Oh the death/sacrifice of some soldier giving his life for a noble cause. Now thats freedom of the press!

[demagogic_schizoid]

you all missed my point. I was saying that when looking at death counts, you should also look at the deaths which a war prevents. WW2 arguably prevented a lot of deaths while the Iraq war hasn't, so to compare the numbers like that without any context isn't helpful.

[Krill]

you all missed my point. I was saying that when looking at death counts, you should also look at the deaths which a war prevents. WW2 arguably prevented a lot of deaths while the Iraq war hasn't, so to compare the numbers like that without any context isn't helpful.

Well, Saddam was responsible for mass executions of up to 300,000 of his own people, so that's not necessarily true.