U.S. Marine killed in combat in western Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20262076.htm

BAGHDAD, Feb 20 (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine was killed in action in Iraq's western Al Anbar province, the U.S. military said on Sunday.

The soldier, who belonged to the 1 Marine Expeditionary Force, died on Saturday, the military said in a statement. It gave few details on grounds that information could help guerrillas and put U.S. troops at greater risk.

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[Erika]

1. Bush has opressed the media to the extent

that American casualties aren't announced anymore. View www.icasualties.org

[NNN0LHI]

2. This keeps popping up more and more lately

>>>It gave few details on grounds that information could help guerrillas and put U.S. troops at greater risk.<<<

Does that make sense? Don't want to give any information about how this soldier died because they don't want the guerrillas to know the information? Weren't the guerrillas there? And since they were there they would know the information first hand.

So the military knows what happened. The guerrillas know what happened. Damn, I think the only ones who don't know what happened is us.

Don

[lebkuchen]

3. The parents will eventually know, when their child doesn't return home

That's the group that will be speaking out against the war in greater numbers, especially when the draft gets started.

[TacticalPeek]

12. Frustrating, but it makes sense to me.

My son fights in al Anbar. When casualties happen, email and other comms are locked down until the next of kin are notified, usually 24-48 hrs. That is very trying. When the identities are announced, more information about the incident is also provided, by which time there is no (operational) tactical value the info could have for the guerrillas. The Marines are greater sticklers about this than the Army, as in this case, but I respect that, and, though I am an Army vet, think the Marines are very well led and very effective at what they do. Within a day or two we know more, and I have seen nothing to indicate that any branch is under-reporting its casualties, as is sometimes asserted, unfortunately. There may be a very few cases involving special operators/paramilitary types, but I'd guess keeping quiet is SOP for them.

I'm sure President aWol's bureaucracy does all it can to downgrade the KIA count, such as the treatment of the wounded who later die in Germany or the states, but that is more the Pentagon than the services.

The thing that impressed me is, as ausiedownunderground notes, this release refers to "guerrillas". Usually it's "insurgents" or (of all things) "anti-Iraqi forces". This sounds like a thumb in the eye of Feith and Cambone et al.

So, I have another day or so of what I hate most: waiting, hoping some other parents get this bad news, not me.

Any day two guys in dress uniforms don't come to your door is a good day. And every day I hate Bush more, every friggin day: MORE. :grr:

[ausiedownunderground]

4. HEY BREAKTHROUGH! - There guerrillas, not insurgents!!!!!

[Erika]

5. Yes, weve lost almost 1,500 kids to Bush's war

but Bush has silenced the press. The maimed are at a greater number.

[bluestateguy]

6. That can't be true

Rush Limbaugh said major combat was over.

[Dark]

7. My god, when is this going to end? n/t

[Erika]

8. Our kids still die

and Bush has opressed news services from reporting it. Eventually, www.icasualties.org will let the truth be known. Bush has put our kids to die for no reason other than imperialsm and corporate profits.

I watched this in Nam also. The maimed kids will try to integrate into society, and the government will turn their backs to them.

[leftchick]

9. 1478 DEAD

Military Fatalities: By Time Period
Period US UK Other* Total Avg Days
4 42 0 1 43 2.15 20
3 579 26 27 632 2.93 216
2 717 27 58 802 1.89 424
1 140 33 0 173 4.02 43
Total 1478 86 86 1650 2.35 703

To View Period Details Click The Period Number
Time Periods Defined
Latest Fatality: Feb 19, 2005


Military Fatalities: By Month
Period US UK Other* Total Avg Days
2-2005 38 0 1 39 1.95 20

http://icasualties.org/oif/

[ausiedownunderground]

10. Good Job Leftchick! We Know, but you might not know ,thats the problem!

[leftchick]

11. what

??