Is there a statistical base for how many whites died in the Iraq war as opposed to blacks?

Question

Which race is at greater risk for dying for their country?

If you don't know, then don't answer. It's just a question, don't get your panties in a bunch!

Happy Girl: There aren't many Hawai'ians left, they were slaughtered when whites came to overthrow our government, and steal our land. Much like the rest of what your fat @$$ sits on is also stolen land.

Bridget: Dating other races doesn't exempt anyone from being racist. It's just something that I wondered about. People who called me a racist are most likely a 'closet' racist and bigots. Remember, racist or not, just be real.

Answer 1

While I've been unable to link to the article, the Military Times did an article about this a little while ago, and several other news outfits have looked into it.

It turns out that the military looks very much like the country as a whole, and casualties fall more according to paygrade than race.

No surprises there, as most Colonels don't go on patrol.

Considering how many rumors there are about non-whites being used as "cannon fodder", the question is reasonable, but those rumors don't generally start in the military.

Even the serious anti-war protesters aren't making the claim that race is a major factor in war casualties, but that doesn't stop the rumors.

Answer 2

If by "statistical base" you mean statistics: yes there are. They are available only through researching using the freedom of information act. The available statistic from usarmy.gov do no include any racially segregated mortality rates. You can be sure that the armed forces do everything they can to insure racial fairness, because it is in their best interests.

If you are suggesting that more blacks or other minorities may have higher injury or mortality rates than whites, I doubt that you will find much evidence for it. It is possible that fewer officers are injured, and if more officers are white, there might be a small difference. However, I am sure that all the armed forces go out of their way to insure racial balance both in opportunity and in service. That should preclude any dramatic inequity in mortality rates.

Despite the fact that most intelligent Americans despise war, (particularly the Iraq war) we wouldn't stand for racial inequality in military service. If there was even a hint that this might be an issue, I believe Americans would very quickly move to fix it. We have too much respect for those who fight. We have sympathy for their families when they are injured or killed. I will not react as some who say that your question indicates racism. In fact, if we are to truly defeat racism, hard questions like this must be asked. We must be sure and courageous when we confront racial issues. That means you should be able to openly ask any potentially sensitive question and get reasonable answers.

One last point: If you ask the people who serve, you might get a a clearer picture. Of the many veterans I know, (and I have met hundreds) almost NONE of them are bigots. Perhaps that is because when your life is on the line, your learn to trust your comrades in arms, regardless of race.

I hate war. But I know that the heat of battle melts racial barriers. Everybody has red blood. Understanding that may be the only good thing to come from war.

Answer 3

This is actually a good question. I have always wondered the same thing. I don't see what's racist about asking such a question. It's true that certain groups of people in our society are more discriminated against, so it only makes sense that perhaps some groups are also more readily placed in harm's way during war. If someone is seen as a second-class citizen, then s/he could also be considered less valuable (in the eyes of a racist), and therefore, exposed to more danger than someone of higher 'value.'

By the way, I'm WHITE and have dated people of many colors, but if you want to call me a racist - go right ahead.

Answer 4

Actually, yes there are statistics. And no, black people are not doing the majority of the dying. It is a statistical fact that most front line jobs where people are doing most of the dying are filled with white males. Blacks make up less than 5% of the front line forces; most choose jobs in non-combat related feilds. Considering the Military is a volunteer force and that you pick your own MOS according to your ASVAB scores and openings in the field you want the "minorities are used for cannon fodder because they are valued less" argument completely falls apart unless they choose a front line MOS themselves; but it certainly isn't forced upon them.

Answer 5

We're all Americans, that is all that should matter. So the answer to you question is...Americans are at the greatest risk at dying for their country in Iraq.

On the news you never hear that five white Americans or three black Americans died today in Iraq, you just hear the news reporters say X-number of Americans died today....

Answer 6

In the Marines, there is no black and white... we are ALL green. It completely absurd to think that as a small unit leader I'd have the motivation, much less the ability, to consider the race of an individual before issueing an order in the heat of battle.

If there are "stats" on this, I don't even want to know them. Men fight, men die, and everyone of them matters!

Semper Fi

Answer 7

You guys and the natives would still be a wandering bunch of of cave dwellers, living day to day and having a life expectancy of what is 40 years, dont think your life was gravy before we got here, you would have this computer to have so much fun on. And by the way remember the attack on Pearl Harbour, If we werent there they would have invaded u just like the phillipenes and I garauntee you dont want to live under japanese rule as a slave, piece it together.
And there is no answer to your question, overall numbers for enemy dead have been classified now, and I hope d

Answer 8

They do keep statistics like this; I’m not sure about Iraq but for the Vietnam War:
86% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasians, 12.5% were black, 1.2% were other races.

Answer 9

You shouldn't be getting all huffy when you don't get the answers that you wanted. Every soldier, no matter their race or sex or rank are at risk of death. It's just the luck of the draw! Obviously you have never been a military member.

Answer 10

Oh get off it. it's an all volunteer force. the only way to wriggle the percentages down would be to set quotas for how many minorities are allowed to enlist. Then you'd be up in arms about that. Face it you are a racist.