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2006-01-27 Iraq

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Posted by Steve White 2006-01-27 00:01|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 These are the real heros of America.

Posted by bgrebel9 2006-01-27 00:57|| 2006-01-27 00:57|| Front Page Top

#2 Context.

The media's breathless tabulation of casualties in Iraq--now, over 1,800 deaths--is generally devoid of context. Here's some context: between 1983 and 1996, 18,006 American military personnel died accidentally in the service of their country. That death rate of 1,286 per year exceeds the rate of combat deaths in Iraq by a ratio of nearly two to one.

That's right: all through the years when hardly anyone was paying attention, soldiers, sailors and Marines were dying in accidents, training and otherwise, at nearly twice the rate of combat deaths in Iraq from the start of the war in 2003 to the present. Somehow, though, when there was no political hay to be made, I don't recall any great outcry, or gleeful reporting, or erecting of crosses in the President's home town. In fact, I'll offer a free six-pack to the first person who can find evidence that any liberal expressed concern--any concern--about the 18,006 American service members who died accidentally in service of their country from 1983 to 1996.

The point? Being a soldier is not safe, and never will be. Driving in my car this afternoon, I heard a mainstream media reporter say that around 2,000 service men and women have died in Afghanistan and Iraq "on President Bush's watch." As though the job of the Commander in Chief were to make the jobs of our soldiers safe. They're not safe, and they never will be safe, in peacetime, let alone wartime.
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/011443.php

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. You will be remembered long after the "15 minutes" of fame crowd are long dust in history. They will be remembered, if at all, like the royalists and slavers of their centuries, while you will be among the honored.

Posted by Sharong Ebbosing6626 2006-01-27 07:52|| 2006-01-27 07:52|| Front Page Top

#3 Adding to the comment about US military personnel being killed in accidents, training mishaps, and other such incidents: the number has actually gone DOWN from what it was in the 1950's through about 1978, when the last draftee left service. The numbers were in the 5000-8000 range for much of that time. The military was bigger, the equipment less safe to use, and the training involved a few people who really didn't want to be where they were. Having known at least a dozen military members who died in training accidents, and being a "walking wounded" myself, I know how hard it is to accept the death of those who die in training. Yet the small number of casualties suffered in wartime in both Afghanistan and Iraq is the direct result of realistic training - the kind that results occasionally in accidental deaths.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2006-01-27 14:21|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2006-01-27 14:21|| Front Page Top

#4 Damn. God bless them and console their families.

Posted by Ptah">Ptah 2006-01-27 16:13|| http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org]">[http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org] 2006-01-27 16:13|| Front Page Top

#5 Killed in combat, training accident, or killed in an accident, they died supporting our nation, God bless them each and every one. The walking wounded, like OP, are an all together different story. Our VA centers have taken huge budget hits and the young, and old OP, that are still paying the price deserve to be taken care of. I wish just one politician would take up their cause and one MSM would support it in the news.

Posted by 49 Pan">49 Pan 2006-01-27 18:25|| 2006-01-27 18:25|| Front Page Top

#6 "Killed in combat, training accident, or killed in an accident, they died supporting our nation, God bless them each and every one."

Amen
Even during "zero casualty Clinton" reign from 1993 throught 2000, over 7500 servicemen died (20% were suicides)

http://web1.whs.osd.mil/mmid/casualty/castop.htm

Posted by Glairt Uneretch7518 2006-01-27 20:52|| 2006-01-27 20:52|| Front Page Top

#7 Superb post!
I'd forward it to f***ing j. kerry, U.S. Senator, (D) MA. and traitor to thr U.S. Will someone please just help us off him?

Posted by Asymmetrical Triangulation 2006-01-27 22:27|| 2006-01-27 22:27|| Front Page Top

#8 talk to Tereza

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-01-27 23:16|| 2006-01-27 23:16|| Front Page Top

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