US army deaths in Iraq hit 4,000
The number of United States military personnel killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion five years ago has passed the 4,000 mark.
The latest to die were four soldiers whose patrol vehicle was blown up by a bomb in southern Baghdad on Sunday.
The deaths bring the total to 4,000, according to figures calculated by the independent website icasualties.org, and the Associated Press.
It gets the full "breaking news" treatment at the beeb.
And we know what the big three morning news shows will be all about, too.
And a big headline from the NYTIMES and AP, etc.
UPDATE: MSNBC GOES WHOLE HOG:U.S. death toll in Iraq reaches 4,000
As if it was meaningful to have a nice round casualty figure.
Grim milestone reached when IED kills 4 U.S. soldiers in Baghdad
THEY WILL USE IT FOR ANTI-WAR PROPAGANDA.
Obama and Hilary will say it proves the war was wrong.
All their words will prove is that THEY are wrong for America.
My condolences to the families.
We shall forever be in their debt.
All freedom loving people everywhere are.
It is astute for you to point out that the debt will be "forever" to pay off. That's money debt. No one can ever re-purchase a life that has be killed.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the meaning of a nice round casualty figure?
ReplyDeleteFirst, if we are talking about casualties (including both dead and wounded soldiers) the nice round number is over 33,000.
Second, the meaning of these numbers is "loss". Each time a larger number passes, America gets a moment to consider the greater loss that it represents, and compares it to any benefits gained as a result these losses.
At some point, it becomes too much to bear. Is America truly comfortable with the benefits that come from a 100-year occupation, and with it, say, 5000 casualties yearly? I doubt it.
...and the argument now isn't whether or not there will be less casualties. The point here is that as casualty numbers grow, more people will say that the loss is not worth the benefit.
You act as if it is a good thing and that those people died for something more than Exxon profits and high gas prices. Maybe we shoudl stay there another 100 years and see what kind of number we have then. If you want to do that, vote for McCain. If you have a brain, don't.
ReplyDelete