Death toll 500 for Us GIs in Iraq
Doesn’t matter what your politics are.
Doesn’t matter how you feel about this war.
This is bad.
And it continues to be a hot spot of violence. I feel for our men and women over there. Rant away as political and as upset as you want to be. I put this here in the Pit because I didn’t want to limit anyone’s responses.
Here’s hoping you guys come home soon.
If only there were a reason for it…
My thoughts and prayers are with the members of the military and their families. The loss of human life we have experienced is nothing compared to what some other countries, and what our own country has suffered in other military efforts, but each person destroyed by this effort saddens me.
To my friends and classmates in Iraq, I wish you a safe journey home. To all of the members of the armed forces I say THANK YOU. Not just for following your orders in this particular “mission” (for lack of a better word), but for signing up, giving up a part of your life to protect our citizens and getting crappy pay and substandard benefits for doing so.
I’ll be happy to see you all come home and welcome you with open arms.
~J
In addition to the American and coalition forces that have lost their lives in Iraq, lets not forget the Iraqi civilians that have also lost their lives.
It’s hard to find a trustworthy source for what that count might be, but my guess is it’s considerably larger that 500.
Not to mention suicide.
Jaade brings up another thing that bugs me about this whole mess. (Love your sig, btw)
It’s bad enough to have to be in a position of peace keeper / law enforcer where people are resentful of your presence. It’s also very depressing for our servicemen over there. Not only are they involved in a very contraversial situation, they aren’t treated well by our own government for doing so.
Without listing any specific cites (because you’ve all seen the news stories over the past several months, right?), I am very distressed by seeing the continuing economic hardship, the escaliting stress level, and the severe depression attacking our men and women over there. Just last night, the local CBS affiliate news channel here in OKC stated that the suicide rate for servicemen in Iraq is 26% higher than for the same age groups in general. And it ran yet another story of a called up reservist about to lose his family home because of the lack of legislation protecting his property while he serves. (Yeah, another completely unfocused rant, I know…)
Imagine the daily life of a US soldier in Iraq.
We don’t have to. One or two members of the SDMB have been out there and there are plenty of blogs to read.
Hold on just one minute. This is all lies. I have yet to see President Bush* honor one dead veteran. Where are the flag draped coffins being unloaded from military aircraft? You guys are making this shit up. Try going to Google Images and type in President Bush and Military Funeral. Zilch. The War-Deserter-In-Chief would never think of sending some kid off to do a job that he didn’t have the cajones to do himself, now would he?
I hope someday they the respect they deserve…
I’m sorry, but what “respect” do they “deserve”?
Salaam. A
When was the last time you deposed an evil dictator and mass murderer?
Aldeberan, you are really a dumb fuck. Do you really think the Iraqis were better off with Saddam and his raping, murderous sons? If so, I wish you the same kindness they offered their victims.
Aldebaran, don’t be a jerk.
Lynn
For the Straight Dope
Speaking as person who has mixed feelings about the war. I think your statment means either your an asshole or your very ignorant. I’m going with asshole.
Frankly, I think that for the Iraqi dead the solution was worse than the problem and we didn’t have the right to make that decision for them. For those who have been “saved”, I think we should wait to see what the new Iraqi government is like before we comment. I will just say, however, that if the new government goes the way of Saddam, we probably won’t wage a war to protect them
I don’t want to hijack this thread along a regime change tangent. I’ve started a thread about it in GD here so if you have any comments I’d be interested in hearing them in that thread (preferably).
Ugh, I should make it clear that I have nothing but the utmost admiration for the armed forces, a bunch of folks who are certainly a damn sight braver than me. That I disagree with their current mission doesn’t mean I’ve got anything against them. I hope they’re able to come back to their friends and families as soon as possible.
Aldebaran, allow me to spell out exactly why our servicemen and women deserve respect, even if (like me) one believes that the Iraq war is wrong, stupid, and a long-term disaster in many ways.
The Americans (and other Westerners) serving in Iraq didn’t make the policy decisions that sent them there. No doubt there are those in the invasion and occupation forces who voted against Bush and disagreed with the rush to war. Yet they have honored their oaths of service and obeyed their orders. This despite whatever doubts they may harbor about the wisdom of the decisions that have put them in harm’s way; despite the hardships and dangers they face; despite the damage and disruption to their lives back home.
And so we may condemn the policymakers, and despise the policies, yet honor those who have performed their duty honorably and bravely.
Excellent post, dude. That was exactly what I was trying to say.
Just out of curiosity, does anyone think that the Iraqis we’ve killed deserve the same respect as US soldiers (and UK, for that matter)?
Why do Americans always seem to think that American lives are more special than any other lives?
Diogenes
I think that’s simple ethnocentrism. Human nature simply makes it far easier to feel for people we can imagine knowing IRL. I reckon most people the world over are like that.
As you’ve probably ascertained from my above posts and the GD thread I’ve linked too (which seems to be dying so quit wasting time and post in it goddamn it 
) I’ve a lot of sympathy with the Iraqi’s but even so it’s easier for me to sympathise with my own countrymen.
Academically, I’m sure very few reasonable people would assert that Americans are intrinsically worthy of more respect than Iraqi’s. That doesn’t necessarily make it difficult to sympathise more with, say, a lone GI killed on the same day as an innocent Iraqi.
I have very little doubt that you believe American lives are worth less than Iraqi lives. From your posts, I get the distinct impression that you have little regard for anything American.