Pentagon reports Dec 23 total of 22000 Iraq casualties - 473 dead

[papau]

http://www.hackworth.com/

http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Hacks%20Target%20Homepage.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=46&rnd=43.253819269173874

12-29-2003 Hack's Target Saddam in the Slammer, so why are we on Orange? by David H. Hackworth



<snip>… (Nov 30 )a Pentagon source gave me a copy of a Nov. 30 dispatch showing that since George W. Bush unleashed the dogs of war, our armed forces have taken 14,000 casualties in Iraq – about the number of warriors in a line tank division).

As of Dec 23 Lt. Col. Scott D. Ross of the U.S. military's Transportation Command (said) his outfit had evacuated 3,255 battle-injured casualties and 18,717 non-battle injuries. Of the battle casualties, 473 died and 3,255 were wounded by hostile fire. (the major categories/non-battle evacuations - but not all reasons shown):

Orthopedic surgery – 3,907

General surgery – 1,995

Internal medicine – 1,291

Psychiatric – 1,167

Neurology – 1,002

Gynecological – 491


The Pentagon has never won prizes for the accuracy of its reporting, but I think it’s safe to say that so far somewhere between 14,000 and 22,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have been medically evacuated from Iraq to the USA.<snip>



So at the end of this turbulent year, we must ask ourselves: Was the price our warriors paid in blood worth the outcome? Are we any safer than before our pre-emptive invasion? <snip>


Our first New Year’s resolution should be to find out if the stated reasons for our pre-emptive strike – Iraq's purported weapons of mass destruction and Saddam’s connection with al-Qaeda – constituted a real threat to our national security. Because, contrary to public opinion, the present administration hasn’t yet made the case that Saddam and his sadists aided and abetted al-Qaeda's attacks on 9/11. We also need to know why our $30 billion-a-year intelligence agencies didn’t read the tea leaves correctly, as well as what’s being done besides upgrading the color code to prevent other similar strikes. <snip>


http://www.sftt.org/PDF/article11252003a.pdf
“well orchestrated guerrilla war” -New CSIS Study on Iraq -The Current Military Situation in Iraq
This study is about the situation in Iraq by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Particularly interesting are the notes from visits to Army units deployed in the field, starting on page 10. The situation described is a well orchestrated guerrilla war.
http://www.sftt.org/PDF/article11252003a.pdf


http://www.nathanadams.com/WeSupportU.htm
An impressive slide show expressing support for our troops in Iraq.
http://www.nathanadams.com/WeSupportU.htm
(and I add a salute from all the members of the DemocraticUnderground)

http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Special%20Reports%20Hack.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=119&rnd=642.3469390428953
Degrading Medals: The Same Old Game - Soldier writes -Our commander, who was only here for 4 months before being allowed to PCS to the states was submitted for a MSM and a Bronze Star..on the SAME write up (AND I note that Reagan gave out more medals for our Grennada Island adventure to arrest 30 Cubans than were handed out in ? - memory fades - I want to say VietNam - but someone should check - in any case the military avoiders known as the GOP sure like to offset their chickenhawk resumes by giving out medals - and it works - 57% of military is solid GOP).
http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Special%20Reports%20Hack.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=119&rnd=642.3469390428953

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Yep in many ways the awards are bieng cheapened

and they do not even get it

[stickdog]

2. Great post.

Thanks.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

3. There's not much to say here except needless tragedy.

The people who caused this should be held accountable.

Great post!

[PaDUer]

4. They should definitely

be held accountable..Why aren't these families suing? Oh that's right, they can't...forgot that ditty that * added..

[legin]

5. Some very very rough guesswork

which has some vague conection with reality.

For a 1 year stint in Iraq:

top-flite elite u.s. forces
1 in 200 chance of being killed
1 in 100 seriously wounded
1 in 20 wounded

Reserve/National Gaurd (not as well trained)
1 in 100 chance of being killed
1 in 50 seriously wounded
1 in 10 wounded

This is for the conditions as they exist now, and is very iffy and to an extent based on the fact that i like easy to remember round numbers.

[legin]

6. These guesses ignore most of non-battle related injuries n/t

.

[legin]

8. Giving it some thought

Rumsfeld and co are morons, but they are not complete morons (I would hope) so they are not going to chuck these 'one day a month' National Guard guys right in at the deep end, they are hopefully going to be posted to quiet areas. So i am going to simplify:

1 year stint in Iraq for all forces:
1 in 200 chance of being killed
1 in 100 seriously wounded
1 in 20 wounded

[SquireJons]

7. Something's Funny in the Middle

...of this sandwich. I loved the info on the real number of American casualties in Iraq. I've been saying for a long time this focus on 400 dead is b#@l s$!t. There is a whole trained American division that will never fight again. Most of them will have a hard time just living.

But when I watched the slide show on the military and patriotism, it made my blood run cold. The overwhelming statement is to equate the fighting of Nazi Germany and Japan with our invasion of Iraq (and by reference of the firemen, tie in 911). This is pure propaganda.

These days, with our power, what our military does is more important then ever. Invading small, poorly run (but oil producing), helpless countries is nothing like standing up to the German and Japanese war machines - except in pictures. How come we didn't see any pictures of US troops ransacking Iraqi homes in the middle of the night. Perhaps holding the women and children at gunpoint? (I have seen these pictures) Or maybe burning down a Vietnamese village. Or strafing North Korean refugees. War is serious killing on a grand scale. It's not manhood, it's not glory, it's not about guts or cowardice. It's about power, and we must be careful how we use it.

This is the most important reason George W. Bush must be fired.

[goforit]

9. SquireJons....well said!!!

Your quote:
"It's not manhood, it's not glory, it's not about guts or cowardice. It's about power, and we must be careful how we use it."

This says it all. Why is it that man has to blow and go to feel
like a man. Yes, the core issue here is the "power". In order
to address peace we have to go into the inner psyche of "man" and
his desire to control, intimidate and destroy just to feel almighty
and supreme.
My friend , it is a serious illness amongst many of men.
And yes, we must address and resolve this as soon as possible.

The reflection of man is not very pretty and is incredibly weak.