Why were there more deaths in the US military during peace in 1980 under Carter than during any time in Iraq?

Question

Also, why were there more suicides?

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf

see page 11

To the mental peons below:

Jimmy Carter was in the White House from January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981. This would mean he was Commander In Chief for the entire calendar year of 1980.

The study I sourced was done by congress.

Answer 1

I understand and appreciate the question. The facts are that those that roar about military deaths in combat couldn't have cared less about those brave souls that died during peacetime by accident, homocide or other causes. I understand that it wasn't fashionable to care about the military during peacetime for these folks. A death of a fellow soldier during peacetime hurts as much if not more than the death of a fellow soldier due to combat. Soldiers accept death from combat, for they all know in the back of their minds that is always a possibility. It's hard to accept the death of a soldier due to a training accident, or murder or illness.
As for those that don't understand why there weren't any deaths listed due to terrorist acts from 2002 to 2006, they are listed as deaths due to hostilities ie combat. In case you've forgotten, we sent troops after the terrorists in 2002. There have been hostilities between our troops and terrorists since.

Don't get me wrong, I truely believe that any death of a soldier is a terrible thing, whether his/her death is a result of combat or training accident or other causes. I've lost friends due to training accidents, and know a family that lost a son to an IED in Iraq. It's funny how that family that lost a son in Iraq is less bitter about it than some of those who oppose the war. They are proud of the sacrifice their son made for you and me, and I for one, greatly appreciate it and all those that sacrifice for this great country on a daily basis. And before anyone asks, I served in the USAF from Dec 1983 through Mar 1988.

Answer 2

Because it is not true in the real world—only in the world of weak-minded, functionally illiterate, and dishonest conservatives.

From your own Table 4. (“U.S. Active Duty Military Deaths, 1980 through 2006,
Part I, Total Military Personnel”), it is obvious that the number of active military personnel in 1980 was between 25-29% greater than in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Active Military:

1980: 2,159,630 (deaths = 2392)

2003: 1,732,632 (deaths = 1,228)
2004: 1,711,916 (deaths = 1,874)
2005: 1,664,014 (deaths = 1,942)
2006: 1,664,014 (deaths = 1,858)

Any person that knows how to divide can see that the frequency (death rate/ population size) is approximately 0.0011 in every case.


Identified cause of military deaths for years 1980-2003-2004-2005-2006

Total Deaths
2,392
1,228
1,874
1,942
1,858

Accident
1,556
440
604
632
465

Hostile Action
0
334
739
739
753

Homicide
174
36
46
49
30

Illness
419
207
270
281
205


Self Inflicted
231
167
188
150
155

So, the obvious conclusion is that the military has significantly reduced the number of “accidental” deaths and has cut the number of deaths by illness almost in half over the last 30 years. That can hardly be unexpected given the advances in technology and medical care over that time period.


So, do you plead ignorance or dishonesty as the cause of your bogus question?

=======

According to the Table of Contents, page 11 is:

“Table 8. Vietnam Conflict — Casualty Summary”

You’re not very careful in your analysis of information, huh?

Answer 3

Because your source is obviously biased and inaccurate.

It states that one (1) US military person was killed by terrorists in 1980, BUT it claims that NO US military personnel were been killed by terrorists in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 or 2006.

So which is it? Have terrorists been killing US troops in afghanistan and iraq or not?

Answer 4

The majority of those are accidental deaths. The stats are not unlike those of any other year. I don't understand what you are going on about.

EDIT: As for the suicides, this has been in the news recently. No one yet knows why suicide rates are higher in the military then in the real world.

Answer 5

The suicide rate under Bush II in the Armed Forces is higher that it has been in decades. Bush is lousy president, and 70% of the American people now agree with this - including many Republicans that voted for him in the first place. Why don't you blame Roosevelt for more American deaths? Your "logic" isn't logical.

Answer 6

Let me get this straight, you being a partisan zealot, and I am supposed to believe this crap? I mean really, what about all the dead Iraqi's and Afghan's?

You are being inhuman, but then again, what would I expect from you.

Peace

Jim

Answer 7

Because you can't read or don't know when Carter was the president but I saw nothing in25 pages of the report to support your fantasy (or BS).

Answer 8

You are comparing accidental deaths/natural causes to our soldiers fighting and dying in combat in Iraq?

Civilians also die of non combat causes. Disgraceful.

Answer 9

because they were fighting a network of Liches. Liches can control your mind.

Answer 10

Are you trying to justify the deaths of soldiers under Bush who died because he lied.or just trying to take the attention off of Iraq