I read that of the 700+ deaths in Iraq for US forces over 200 were not results from hostile actions. What are the causes (or leading causes) of these deaths?
Gun accidents, traffic accidents, drowning, electrocution, the usual sort of stuff. Here’s a Detailed listing. (select “cause of death detail” from the “view totals by” menu and click on “apply filter” to acess the listing)
I understand that military convoys often drive without their lights on, so as to avoid attacting attention (and gunfire and RPGs), and this explains why there are so many accidents.
There’s something wrong with that list. There is only 1 suicide listed but a lot more than that have taken place.
I read an article in a newspaper a while back that said that the reported suicide rate was quite a bit higher than normal and there was worry about them increasing because of the forced extensions. Personal reports from before August from someone who is stationed over there (through a sister) reported that it seemed like there was a lot of suicides that morale was very low and suicide common and they were not supposed to discuss the suicides. This last is less sinister than might be, given that there is evidence that reported suicides lead to more suicides.
There is a vague term used by Centcom to classify most suicides – I think it was “non-hostile gunshot wound.”
The term is purposefully used to be confused between accidental discharges of a firearm and a self-inflicted wound to protect the dignity of the deceased and their next of kin: “Didja hear? Mr. Jones, down the street, had a son who killed himself in Iraq! I wonder what was wrong with the him?”
The numbers ultimately derive from the military, and Centcom has not been helpful in their handling of casualty reports.