As we approach the 2nd anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, I think it would be a good time to examine just how well we have advanced our mission there. According to The Iraq Coalition Casualty Count website (http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx) there have been 1685 "coalition" troops killed to date (3/6/2005) in Iraq. Surely we should be able to point to a declining chart if we are to accept that each of 4 significant dates relate to progress.
Period 1: March 20, 2003 through May 1, 2003 (the end of major combat)
43 days; 173 Coalition deaths; 4.02 per day
Period 2: May 2, 2003 through June 28, 2004 (sovereignty turned over to Iraq)
424 days; 802 Coalition deaths; 1.89 per day
Period 3: June 29, 2004 (the day after the official turnover of sovereignty to Iraq) through January 30, 2005 (Iraq Elections).
216 days; 632 Coalition deaths; 2.93 per day
Period 4: January 31, 2005 (the day after Iraq Elections) through 3/6/2005
35 days; 78 Coalition deaths; 2.23 per day
Duration thusfar
718 days; 1685 Coalition deaths; 2.35 per day
Of course something that is left out of almost every Bush Administration briefing and "main-stream" media account is the estimated number of Iraqi casualties (supposedly it is still their country). Estimates over the course of the invasion and occupation run from 10,000 to 100,000. The discrepancy is explained, in part, by counting civilians killed by direct acts of hostility versus the addition of those who die as a result of the lack of medicines, electricity, and basic access to treatment.
How do these number relate to our "mission"? Well by now only the most rabid neo-con believes we will still find WMD in Iraq. 1685 deaths for nothing there. Then there is the link to Al-Qaeda; except that the link did not exist until Bush invaded the country and deposed the man who was keeping Osama bin Laden out of the country. 1685 deaths to allow Al Qaeda INTO Iraq. How about the lives saved from Saddam's evil mass graves? Specualtion at best. According to most reliable sources, since 1991, Saddam seems to have been held in check with regard to such mass atrocities. Indeed, the argument could be made that the innocent lives lost over the last 2 years are a direct result of "our mission".
To celebrate these numbers and their meaning to "our mission", I hope to see you at a rally close to you on Saturday March 19, 2005. Show the troops and the Iraqi people that we support them by demanding we get out of that country.
Chad "the Left" Shue
Mike's Blog Round Up
44 minutes ago
2 comments:
I like your point that we brought Osama to Iraq. America is recruiting enemies to justify creating more war. The poor souls that are dying are the kindling for this war and they die in vain becasue it is not about protecting our freedom it is about enslaving the world to money - money slaves. If the war does not expand and advance the cause of the neo-cons -- growing the Free Market economy of the privileged business class, then it will mean that the people of the world have woken up and said NO to war.
Want to participate in something on March 19th? Everett Peace Action and Veterans For Peace are sponsoring "Arlington Northwest" at Everett's Harborview Park. See http://www.everettpeaceaction.org/article.asp?IDZ=265 for more information.
Contact me if you're interested in volunteering.
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