Is 3,300 a lot of dead troops?

Question

I ask this question because there are a lot of people who seem to think it is a large number. I could use Vietnam as an example (50,000). What about Iwo Jima in WW2 (5,000). Normandy. Battle of the Bulge. Why is it horrible when someone who knows what they are getting into and have the training to defend themselves dies? Is it worse to die like that or from being a disgustingly obese American. Over 200,000 people die every year from heart disease. Is it on the news daily? What about the drunk driving number of 16,000/year. I guess it isn't "cool" to go out and protest either one of those is it?

Oh, I forgot to mention that I am a US Marine. I have been there and lost friends. So keep the comments coming.

AGAIN I say, I have been there (Iraq), so the lessons in religion are not needed and unwanted. Stick to the question.

Answer 1

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

There is no pre-determined price of Freedom.
The second you give it a price the enemy will write the check.

Answer 2

Heart disease and its obvious links with obesity is well covered in the news. Each day there is an update of road deaths on the radio. People cannot claim ignorance for either of those. I think people are complaining because it is history repeating itself in Iraq. You say that 50,000 died in Vietnam. People can see this happening again. The problem is that there is no difference in appearance between the enemy and friends in Iraq, just like in Vietnam. The only ones who don't care about this are the ones who ultimately make the decisions.
The problems in Iraq are between the Sunni and the Shi'ite Muslims. Whether the troops are there or not is not going to make any difference. So many innocent Iraqis are dying while they are trying to go about their lives, like shopping, working etc. The number of troops dead is small compared to 200,000 civilians since the war started, but it is still too many.
The tragedy lies not only in the deaths, but in the people left behind. Also, the bitterness that they did not die defending their home soil, but fighting some enemy, which no doubt future history will prove to be imaginary.
Such a waste.
.

Answer 3

There's a few catches to you Question.

(1) The fatality rate for injured personnel serving in OIF an OEF stands at 8.8%. http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:G3L6AFNh6HIJ:www.tamhsc.edu/homeland/files/20%2520August%2520-%2520San%2520Antonio/20%2520Aug05%2520Change%2520is%2520Hard.ppt+vietnam+war+casualty+kia+wia+rtd&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

This is because of advanced medical technology and medevac procedures saving lives. It also means a lot more wounded and disabled are coming back. For 6 years in a counterinsurgency (5 in Iraq), over 30,000 casualties is a pretty big deal in terms of how it impacts society and the economy. SGLI was raised from $250,000 to $400,000 last I remember (and someone correct me if I'm mistaken, but it's either at $500,000 now or that was discussed) and that's a huge impact on Federal spending. So is disability, lost labor, and all the attendant economic costs.

(2) Those 200,000 Americans who die of heart disease aren't necessarily obese. That and traffic fatalities have always been an issue. In case you forgot, groups like the American Heart Association and MADD have always advertised their causes very well.

(3) And by whatever measure, 3,300 is a lot of dead. We clocked 2,973 in 9/11 and that was terrible unto itself. That doesn't mean I advocate avoiding the problem; it should be fairly evident that we risk losing warfighters now in carrying out the mission, or we get hammered much worse down the road at a time and place of the enemy's own choosing.

But yes, 3,300 is a lot of dead. There's a good number of those I wish I could bring back. They knew what they were in for though. That just makes the sacrifice involved a lot more poignant.

Answer 4

Don't assume that American Citizens don't care about the dead troops in Iraq. The news and media is controlled by other than citizens and, in fact, you should check to see who owns your networks -- some are foreign owned. Our government demands that the media play down the numbers because people are already against the war in Iraq and drawing attention to it only adds to their disillusionment and their desire to get out. Personally I didn't even know Anna Nicole Smith died. I guess I'll have to look it up to see why or how. I do know how many people died in Iraq and I know what's going on in my town. I also know that the majority of the US citizens are totally fed up with their government and while that might not be well-publicized in the news, it is being played out in the streets and through boycotts and actions.

Answer 5

Stop comparing apples and oranges. First if anyone knew the mid east situation we would never ever got into a mess like this to start with. Also when you come into a room looking for a fight you first look for an exit.Bush goofed again. Now that we have a full blown civil war going on how do we get out-----like the dog with the bloody nose and tail tucked between his legs running like ell.

Answer 6

Ask the parents, the loved ones and the kids left behind.
If it's not a lot, would you prefer how many dead before you approve of the troops coming back?

Because Bush declared an end to "major combat" in Iraq in a May 1, 2003, speech from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

Answer 7

I thonk that is a very good point. These soldiers are knowingly risking there lives to help the lives of others. They're doing it because no one else will. Their deaths should not be in vain. They should be in honor. People shouldn't protest because of this people should take up the path of the soldiers that die.

Answer 8

I agree 100% with your logic. What would the Democrats of today have said when more soldiers died on the first day at Normandy then four years of Iraq? The war is over we have lost! What a different world we would be living in now.....

Answer 9

Look there are just some people who only see fit to fight for their inflated sense of self importance. Other than that war is bad.

Answer 10

war is war ...the sooner people realize that simple fact the sooner we can move forward with this thing and stop dwelling on how soldiers are dying in war.....do i feel for the familys of soldiers killed...hell yes i do ...i feel the same way for those killed in 9-11....but i beleive we are at war with terror and i support the idea of winning that war...in war there will be casualties ...never to few but always many...the american courage is not matched!!!! support our troops!!!