Proof that the Iraq casualty figures are being manipulated...

[Devils Advocate NZ]

Check out this article:

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier was killed and another injured in an accident after they came under fire south of the capital Baghdad

<SNIP>

It said the soldiers were driving in a supply convoy southeast of the town of Diwaniya, 112 miles south of Baghdad, when they received small arms fire and struck another vehicle.

One soldier died as a result of the accident, while another was treated and returned to duty.
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=774764

I don't know about you, but I consider being killed when you crash your vehicle while being shot at to be a combat death rather than an "accident", but what's the bet this death is not added to the totals of combat deaths?

[w13rd0]

1. Nor will the poor soldiers that died...

...have families that will receive benefits or combat compensation...

It's all about the Benjamins to these bloodsuckers...

[atreides1]

6. WAIT

This has been discussed before at different times. If the solider signed up for SGLI(Serviceman's Group Life Insurance) his family, friends, whoever, can receive up to $250,000.

AND IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE SOLDIER DIED AS A RESULT OF COMBAT!!!

There is also an immediate death benefit paid to the next of kin,upon
notification of a soldiers death. It used to be referred to as a burial benefit, because it's to be used for immediate expenses until
the SGLI payment is sent.

[G_j]

15. check this website..

Coalition Casualty Count
http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx
---------------------------

[leftofthedial]

2. no no no

being killed while being shot at in this case was actually natural causes.

After all, some soldiers would quietly pass away in their sleep even if they were still stationed in North Carolina or whereever.


So move along. Nothing to count here.



It used to be that a death in theater, regardless of cause was counted in casualty lists.

[librechik]

3. I saw this yesterday and thought the same thing! Accident my ass!

and I found out also that wounded soldiers in this conflict are NOT getting purple hearts either... this BushCo gang is a bunch of conscienceless skinflints!

[papau]

4. treated and returned to duty - no purple heart - this sucks!

Why is the media keeping this kind of crappy treatment of our military folks censored?

Casualty numbers just are not to be found - anywhere!

If we do not count the injured and dead - combat dead and other dead - it is as if the events did not happen. !884 thanks to our media.

[tom_paine]

13. Orwellian Madness

The same sadness that one feels reading "Animal Farm".

My God, the tragedy...

And Comrade Napoleon marches on, guarded by his trusty Pack Of Dogs.

[radwriter0555]

5. Reuters Cameraman Killed For Filming U.S. Graves: Brother

Get this:


Tuesday, August 19 2003 @ 06:51 PM GMT

"'Mazen told me by phone few days before his death that he discovered a mass grave dug by U.S. troops to conceal the bodies of their fellow comrades killed in Iraqi resistance attacks ..'"

By Awad al-Ragoub

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM - The brother of Reuters cameraman Mazen Dana said he was deliberately murdered for discovering mass graves of U.S. troops killed in Iraqi resistance attacks.

"The U.S. troops killed my brother in cold blood," Nazmi Dana told IslamOnline.net in exclusive statements.

"The U.S. occupation troops shot dead my brother on purpose, although he was wearing his press badge, which was also emblazoned on the car he was driving," he said.

He also recalled that his brother had obtained a prior permit from the U.S. occupation authorities in Iraq to film in the site.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

Connect the dots: http://palestinechronicle.com/article.php?story=2003081918513248

[Brian Sweat]

10. This is B.S.

If they were burying the remains of U.S. soldiers in theater, the families of those soldiers would be raising hell.

[jmowreader]

12. But what if they're never told?

This is what will happen:

* Soldier is killed.
* Soldier is buried in mass grave.
* Soldier's family is told he's a Prisoner of War being held by the Iraqi Army. Then we'll learn that the soldier was traded to the Red Chinese, or the North Koreans, the Russians or whoever for (fill in name of commodity).

I think this is what happened to Navy pilot Michael Scott Speicher, PW from Bush War I. They can't find this guy. Supposedly he was held in Iraq, then traded to Russia, then to China. Now let me ask you: Since President Clinton was supposedly China and Russia's best buddy, wouldn't it be in their best interest to call up ol' Bill and tell him "oh, would you like a nice American fighter jock the Iraqis gave us?" Be great for international relations, if nothing else.

[Greyskye]

14. Links?

I've never heard anytning about Speicher being traded to Russia and/or China. As a matter of fact, if you do a google of "Navy pilot Michael Scott Speicher" you get quite a few hits, of which this one is typical: http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030715-114916-4526r.htm

In short, they think he's dead, and has been for a long time. :(

[newyawker99]

11. radwriter0555

Per DU copyright rules
please post only 4
paragraphs from
the news source.


Thank you.


NYer99
DU Moderator

[Drifter]

7. I consider EVERY single death ...

in Iraq a combat death. I don't care if the guy (or gal) slipped and fell at Bingo Night in the mess hall. If our armed forces are deployed in another country and one of them dies. The reason they died is because they are deployed for combat.

Categorizing these deaths somehow makes the accidents seem trivial. "Mrs. Johnson ... Your boy was killed in Iraq yesterday, fortunately he was not killed in combat."

Cheers
Drifter

[SoFlaJets]

8. sure are a lot of "accidents"

over in Iraq and amazingly how many soldiers are said to have died in them.This is the most dispicable administration this country has ever had to endure.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Casualties

means dead and injured. Since the beginning of WWIII, Bu$hCo has changed the definition to mean only dead.

There is very little coverage or accounting of troops, who are injured, and of those injured, how many died after they were evacuated.