Is an American death somehow more important than an Iraqi death?

Question

I'm asking this similar question to a previous one of mine because I was perturbed by some of the answers. I want to clear up a few things. Saddam had killed many of his own people, we get that, but does that justify our going in and killing 655,000 more, not to mention the many that have died from starvation from our sanctions? I understand that many people have kids over there, but the people we're killing are someone else's children, do they not have the same worth as human beings as an American?
I don't want to hear anyone question the numbers, because any amount of deaths is worth talking about. You can say they were caused by the insurgency, but that is at least partially our own fault, it only started when we decided to invade. I want to hear what people have to say about the lives over there. We hear a lot about the American dead and wounded, and they're important, certainly, but what about the Iraqi dead and wounded? Are they all just radicals aiming to destroy us?

booman: we're both killing each other. Take a look at the news sometime, that's waht happens in war, and the insurgents killing people is partially our fault too, if not entirely. Now talk about the deaths themselves.

the right.: never implied anything of the sort. Casualties of war are going to happen every time, not because of barbaric practices of the soldiers, but because of unfortunate problems with orders and targets. I did not say one bad thing about our soldiers. I said a lot of bad things about how this war has killed people. Stick to the question.

roadhazzards: yes, war kills people. But in this country, the news has been based solely on Americans dead. It's not a question of why these people died, it's a question of their worth in the eyes of the people of this country, and in the eyes of the world.

crabby blindguy: I think you should focus on American lives, because that's what matters here most. What's sad to me is the total loss of regard for lives of Iraqis. It's not the focus that matters, it's the sense of value that's been lost. You make a good point, but the heart of the issue is that little to no attention is being paid by Americans.

illiberal Illuminati: I just said the count doesn't matter. The number of civilians dead could be 5 and that's still civilians dead. The point of the question is whether you care, which you obviously don't, you'd rather quibble about numbers.

Mel : Actually, I did. Read my post thoroughly sometime, it actually acknowledges those dead during his reign. What I said was does that justify us going in and killing more? All I hear that justifying is taking out Saddam. So thanks for playing, maybe next time. As for your son, of course he's more important to you. The question is, is every American life over there more worth noticing than the Iraqi lives. So celebrate your son, then read the question.

BRYAN H: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/10/11/iraq.deaths/
That's as of 2006, last year. I'm giving you an American source. More importantly, just like so many others, read the question sometime. It could be 5 civilians and still the question would have meaning. Do those people matter at all to you? Seems not.

paradigm_thinker: I love how you agree with my point, then slip into another argument. This has nothing to do with how long we're there after now. It has everything to do with the killing we do while we're there, and the killing that results because we're there. You can believe either way and still answer this question without bringing that up. The media haven't brought it up, the democrats haven't, and yes, neither have the republicans.

truckman: you lost me at dems/libs. Didn't say a word to answer the question. So now, dems and libs are responsible for the deaths, but the republicans, who sent in the troops, aren't. And somehow, we support them. Go lie down for a while and think about it, really, it doesn't make any sense.

Answer 1

You raise good philosophical points--and in the abstract I absolutely agree.

I do, however, focus (on Y/A and elsewhere) on the cost in American lives. Any avoidable death is a profound tragedy--but the primary concern for Americans is American lives. So--to the extent my voice may make a difference, I focus on that as well--because the biggest motivator for my fellow citizens to question Bush's war is the cost in American lives.

Answer 2

"Is an American death somehow more important than an Iraqi death?"

Where you stand often depends on where you sit.

People with an agenda would point out things that would influence the audience in the direction in which they would like to move the conversation...

...take the news media, for example. They have diligently reported the number of US soldiers who have died and have glossed over the rest.

Democrats have used that number as a talking point as to the cost of the war. In their compassion, they have simply omitted the number of Iraqi deaths, including the number of Iraqis who were elected, appointed, or have volunteered to help their new government- or have died while in that position.

Nobody is saying that they are all radicals aiming to destroy us, but you are about to make a mistake- one we would not recover from:

If you agree you should be the friend you would like to have for yourself, what friend will you be in leaving them while their government is not prepared to assume control?

If we leave too soon and things collapse, they will not ask for our help again and any opportunity at making them an ally will be lost. That simple.

Answer 3

There is nothing nice or pretty about war. When we went to Iraq, it was to take control, not play fair. Death is always a by product of war.

On a personal note, my child is more important to me than anyone else's child. I would do whatever I had to do to protect her. So would everyone else, whether Iraqi or American. No one is happy about the deaths. But the only way to prevent it is to not partake in war.

Answer 4

as an American,yes ,any American son,or daughter lost in iraq,is more important,as for your claim to the iraqi death toll,you maybe correct,makes no difference to me,but of those deaths maybe 1of1000,maybe the fault of our military,but 9 out of 10,it would be called collateral damage which is unavoidable in WAR,the rest are the responsibility of muslim bombs,which are responsible for 9 of 10 American deaths,this mess would have been over within a year,if dem/libs,were not giving the muslims moral support,to raise the American,and iraqi death toll to such high numbers,so as to affect the opinion of Americans,and thus allowing the dems/libs to do what they live for,forcing the American military into defeat,and weaken the U.S. to enable the dems to introduce socialism on the American people!

Answer 5

To me yes it is, even if it's a Liberal. No one in Iraq starved from the UN sanctions, the country was still raking in 100's of millions of dollars from oil sales and was supposed to use that money to help feed and medicate it's people, instead Sadam squandered the money on bribes of the French, Germans and some americans, buyiing weapons etc.....

It's called a WAR and in wars unfortunately there are civilian deaths, this has happened in virtually every war since the begining of time. Why is now such a great concern ??? Life isn't fair and war is even less so, time to learn to deal with the truths of life.

Answer 6

I believe that, sure they're, however I additionally believe American reporters supply a skewed view of the matters occurring over there, by and large when you consider that I believe we've got liberal information groups and a conservative President. Should we've got entered in any respect? Given the truth that the President used to be given inaccurate, unsafe intelligence stories I have puzzled approximately that. Should Hussein were toppled? Without a doubt, ask any Iraqi residing over there. The guy used to be a monster, killing his possess humans. Not to say torture. Why are we nonetheless there? That's a tougher query to reply. Briefly, I believe our presence is strongly wanted in Iraq. Because of the Shiite, Sunni clash and likewise when you consider that of the nuclear danger from Iran in the direction of Israel. Do we rather wish Israel destroyed as Iran's President has vowed to do? Hello??????? Can anybody say Armageddon? Iraqi Christians are fleeing Iraq in list numbers when you consider that of the complete Muslim clash. We are in no way, in no way going to realise the Muslim attitude. I wish to mention, "why are not able to all of us get alongside?" But if in case you have the Koran exhorting the Muslim to kill the infidel what's one to do? When I seem at our nation and recall we've got Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Islam, Buddhists and others co-current it makes you wish to scratch your head or beat it towards the wall. I were given to realise that the common Iraqi needs the US to keep its function of their nation and they're thankful we're there. Should we develop our function there? I rather have no idea.

Answer 7

Were you concerned about the Iraq when Saddam was in charge? i bet you did not think of it for a second. Since we have been there that is all allot of people talking about. WOW,there are Children being killed for the Pass 1,000 years.
We didn't kill over 600,000 people Saddam did that to his own people.

And yes my son is far more important to me than any Iraqi in the country.

Answer 8

Is there a difference between your neighbors house burning down and someone being killed other then a house across the country and someone you never knew being killed.......Absolutely.

Anything that hits closer to home 'be it lives' are more important. So yes, the life of an American is more important to me.

Answer 9

Most muslims are killed by other muslims. The soldiers jobs over there is to protect and serve. They are trying to protect the Iraq people from each other and that is so hard because it isn't clear who is the good guy and who's the bad guy.

Answer 10

One person's child is worth no more than another's, except to the parent. My child is worth more than an Iraqi child or your child to me. Let the middle east deal with their own problems. I want my brother in law, cousins, and uncle home to deal with the problems we have here. True the Iraqi deaths shouldn't have ever happened, because we didn't need to be over there. We are destroying ourselves in this war.