Posted by Helen on: 03.19.2008 /
On the TV (see disclaimer) news this morning I heard “5 years and 4,000 lives later…”
I don’t think they got the count right. Unless only American lives count.
Edited to add: I found a site Iraq Body Count which says 80 to 90 thousand Iraq people have died there since the war and occupation.
Comment by: benjamin ady
1 03/19/08 6:51 PM | Comment Link |Iraq Body Count is a big underestimate of lives lost.
What if Americans found it more important to count lives taken by munitions produced in this country, rather than lives taken of people who come from this country?
Probably 17 Iraq and Vietnam war vets committed suicide today. There’s a number to ponder for a while.
Comment by: Helen
2 03/20/08 6:41 AM | Comment Link |Thanks Benjamin. Yes the numbers of deaths due to munitions produced in the US would be enormous, presumably.
And I agree - people who take their own lives because of war should be taken into consideration. War takes a huge toll in so many ways.
Comment by: Jason Horton
3 03/21/08 2:44 PM | Comment Link |I work with a British army civilian tactical trainer. He’s co-owner of one of the companies I work for. According to him the deaths are reported in such a way as to indicate conditions of victory and military superiority. This is good for morale. What isn’t reported is the significantly higher numbers of injuries that occur. These injuries are severe enough to (and here’s an example of unspeak) remove the soldier from active service. i.e. they are blinded, have lost a limb or are otherwise unable to fight.
Comment by: benjamin ady
4 03/22/08 7:40 PM | Comment Link |Jason,
Wow, you kind of nail it, don’t you. You might like Martin’s blog =)
Let us all raise a glass, this easter, to military euphemisms.
Comment by: Eliza
5 03/23/08 6:42 PM | Comment Link |Like the magnetic ribbon seen on the back of some vehicles lately:
“Support our troops. Visit the VA Hospital.”
Comment by: Eliza
6 03/23/08 6:43 PM | Comment Link |And another thought: Everyone should start calling it “Bush’s Folly” instead of “The Iraq War”!! And, send him over there as soon as he’s out of office…
Comment by: Helen
7 03/25/08 4:40 AM | Comment Link |Jason, good point about people injured in the war.
Comment by: Eliza
8 03/25/08 9:31 PM | Comment Link |Read a recent news article that suicide bombers tend to be young men from large families of lower socioeconomic status.
Which made me think… Is this what war is? Our young men with limited education & few job prospects [other than the military] fighting their young men with limited education & few job prospects? It’s basically a jobs program?
Comment by: Jason Horton
9 03/25/08 11:28 PM | Comment Link |If that’s the case then education seems the obvious solution to the problem of blowing one another up.
Comment by: Helen
10 03/27/08 7:34 PM | Comment Link |In this country I often hear ads for the army on the radio which talk about it as a great job/benefits/education opportunity.
Jason I agree with you about the value of education but I’m wondering: what do you do with people who are convinced being a suicide bomber is worth it because they will be rewarded in the afterlife for what they did? Will education change their beliefs?
Comment by: Jason Horton
11 03/27/08 11:27 PM | Comment Link |If someone forms an opinion from a position of ignorance, as I assume that suicide bombers must, then education is the only preventative method against carrying out their plans. We cannot and should not police a person’s thoughts but can provide a means to allow them options to police their own thoughts. Education provides options for people. I really believe that it is as simple as that.
Comment by: Helen
12 03/28/08 4:33 AM | Comment Link |Jason I hear what you’re saying but if someone has strong beliefs, more information (aka education) won’t necessarily change their beliefs - because they may well reject the information as the biased view of unbelievers.