Question about the number of American deaths in Iraq

[ZenLefty]

What is the actual number?

I remember a few weeks ago, I read the actual number of US troops dead was much larger than what was being reported as killed in action. Those who died by accident, friendly fire, suicide, or other means were not being included in that number, despite the fact that there were quite a few of these. My own opinion is if you're a US soldier sent to Iraq, and you die there, then you died as a result of the war. The logic being that if you were still on a military base in Alabama you would very likely not be dead.

This discrepancy was being reported by the media a few weeks ago, but I haven't seen a peep out of it lately.

Is there a source, website, or some reference that is tabulating the actual number of troops that have been killed by this lunatic's war?

[grannylib]

1. Here's some information

Here is one link I found; naturally, in this article, the LIBERAL MEDIA (oh, excuse me...the LEFT WING PRESS) is blamed for INFLATING the death toll with the count of accidents, etc. BATTLEFIELD deaths are the only TRUE numbers that we should pay attention to, according to the FAIR AND BALANCED (riiight) media....

http://www.nationalreview.com/novak/novak082803.asp
This article is nauseating in its portrayal of the Bushies, and mentions how the Democrats are playing into Shrub's hands by concentrating on the war issue -
"President Bush, largely silent just now, and biding his time, has powerful arguments waiting in rebuttal. He welcomes the strategic error of the Democrats in attacking him on the issue of war — where he is far stronger than they — rather than on domestic issues, where they have advantages."


http://www.antiwar.com/ewens/casualties.html
This site lists deaths by category - overall and in combat.

[newyawker99]

2. kick

:kick:

[alcuno]

3. It's 356+. Go here to read about a father who left 1 week after his

first child was born to go to Iraq. Now she'll never know him. Go here to read about the guy who died in Iraq while playing basketball during his down time; he was killed in a mortar attack. Go here and read about the two soldiers crushed by a dump truck after it "accidentally" fell on top of their humvee. Check out the drownings, the "non-combat" gunshot wounds to the head, the electrocutions, the vehicle accidents, and all the others that are not counted because, "Hey, that could happen in the US."

http://www.pigstye.net/iraq/

[Hrumph]

5. And your point is......

what, exactly?

[alcuno]

7. It's 356+

[Hrumph]

8. Being in the military

entails risk. Whether or not the campaign is over, it's still a war zone by my reconing. Bad things happen in war zones. Please don't anyone say they're surprised that Americans are still taking casualties.

[ZenLefty]

10. The point here is this:

The media is citing numbers in the 100-200's, when the actual number is in the 300's. It's the lives of those extra 100 or so US servicemen that I'd like to bring to light. Their sacrifice was no less great; dead is dead.

And the mainstream media NEVER says how many wounded. Of these, how many will be disabled for the rest of their lives? How many won't receive benefits, or will receive paltry benefits, upon returning? That's a bit tangential to the subject of this post, but a related concern nonetheless.

These are things that you don't hear about on the evening news. You know about them, I know about them, but the average Joe may not.

[alcuno]

12. I don't think anyone here is the least surprised.

I think we saw it coming. The surprise is the surprise being shown by our government officials and the willingness of the American media to give those "non-combat" fatalities non-attention to the point that they do not even merit being counted. What was it the other day? We've reached a "milestone" they said? 117 combat fatalities since May 1, they said. When was the last time you heard that 350 young American men and women are dead?

[mmonk]

4. I've learned

not to trust numbers (Vietnam war).

[ZenLefty]

9. I certainly don't trust the numbers being reported

Especially when there's a known, verifiable discrepancy between the numbers the media is trumpeting compared to the reported numbers. Just because a GI dies in an accident over there doesn't make it any less of a death to me, and I think that's an important point to get across so people.

The actual number killed (reported + unreported) is a number that, sadly, we may never, ever know.

[criticalmass]

6. Best site I've found

Summary page: Iraq Coalition Casualty Count

Fatalities: Iraq: Coalition Casualties

The wounded: Tracking the Wounded

[catmandu57]

11. Another one

http://www.lunaville.org/warcasualties/summary.aspx They catagorize casualties by country, number per month, dead and wounded. They also provide links to news stories. Their count now is 357 american dead.

[ZenLefty]

13. Thanks to all who responded

Good info. :thumbsup: