U.S. Iraq war casualties reach new milestone

[Diomedes]

last four months deadliest stretch for U.S. troops in whole war.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/07/america/NA-GEN-US-Iraq-Death-Toll-Rising.php

WASHINGTON: More U.S. troops were killed in combat in Iraq over the past four months — at least 334 through Jan. 31 — than in any comparable stretch since the war began, according to an Associated Press analysis of casualty records.

Not since the bloody battle for Fallujah in 2004 has the death toll spiked so high.

The reason is that U.S. soldiers and Marines are fighting more battles in the streets of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, and other cities. And while hostile forces are using a variety of weapons, the top killer is the roadside bomb.

how many times have we been told about progress?  lies.

U.S. lost this thing, single handedly and unilaterally instigated a global crisis, and killed a lot of innocent people.

no WMDS.  Saddam long gone.  no connection to 9/11.  Osama alive and plotting--he's a patient farger and we're happy to give him time.

Bush out to be jailed

[SunMo]

i barely pay any attention to this stuff...but i had a friend over for the SB and he was trying to tell me that the media was blowing the loss of soldiers out of proportion in Iraq.

when, i told him that they barely talked about it anymore, he got all fired up and told me that i need to watch less ESPN and more Fox News.  so, after i mocked him for using Fox News as his source of "fair and equal" news reporting, we had a discussion about this.

and like i said, the little i know about this is embarrassing, but he dropped a gem on me that got me fired up.  he actually said this, "I don't know what the big deal is, the death toll is what, 2,000?  More soldiers than that died in one battle during World War II."  I honestly couldn't talk for 30 seconds.  I then tried to explain to him how that war and this "war" are entirely different and cannot be compared in any way.

then he dropped the normal shtick of "Saddam fund terrorism", "war on terror" and all that shtein, as i tried to tell him that this was a fraudulent war and they never should've invaded in the first place.  i just couldn't believe that there was anyone out there that still thought this war was not only legit, but necessary.  incredible.

we didn't talk much the rest of the night.

[ice grillin you]

its not how many soldiers have died....its how many soldiers have died for absolutely no reason....

no one wants any dying but i think we can all agree that we would accept large scale losses were we say defending our own border or saving the world from being taken over....little things like that

i cant imagine what the guy you were talking to thinks about the hundreds of thousands of inniocent people who have died in iraq if hes that callous about the death of our own soldiers

i dont think id like him to much...try not to invite him to any tailgates next year

[SunMo]

ha, no problem, he's a casual Eagles fan, and casual Eagles fans don't get invited to games.

he's a good guy overall, he's just blinded by his so called devotion to his party.  the problem is, he isn't a very political person, he just hears stuff on "the news" and repeats it as fact.

the reason for dying is what I was trying to get across to him.  people dying in WWII was for a good cause, it was a legit war.  but one person dying in Iraq for the reasons we went over there is criminal, and can't be defended.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

he's a good guy overall, he's just blinded by his so called devotion to his party.  the problem is, he isn't a very political person, he just hears stuff on "the news" and repeats it as fact.

You should be a good friend, and put him out of his misery.

[Diomedes]

Yeah, take him down to see Sarge, get him signed up, and see him off to his useless death in Iraq.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Got this in my e-mail this morning. There is no way to make them stop polluting my mailbox. 

SUBJ: Call to Service from the Commandant of the Marine Corps

Our Nation is at war - our Corps is at war - fighting a determined enemy bent on terror and domination.  Make no mistake, it is a war we must win!  Success by the enemy will dramatically change the world as we know it, leaving a harsh environment for our children and grandchildren to endure.

I don't need to tell you that over five years of deployments to the fight have put a strain on our Corps.  Acknowledging that, and the necessity to win this struggle, the President has recently authorized the Marine Corps to grow.  In a larger Marine Corps, we will need the leadership, savvy, and determination that experienced Marines like you provide. Now, more than ever, your Marine Corps needs you.

Many of you have already sacrificed a great deal - and have already served your country in a courageous and honorable manner.  However, in this hour of national crisis, I encourage every Marine who is considering closing the chapter on his or her Marine Corps service to reconsider. You are elite among the Nation's warriors.  America and your Corps need you now, and I ask you to re-enlist - or to extend your commitment - to help us defeat this enemy and see us through the crisis.  Think about the experience you have to offer and what it could mean to your fellow Marines still engaged in the fight.  I know that any decision to stay in the Corps is both very important and very personal - one that has far reaching effects on both you and your family. In light of this, I have authorized new incentives for your extension / re-enlistment in recognition of your experience and honorable service.

Contact your Commanding Officer, First Sergeant or Career Retention Specialist for more information.

You are part of a new generation of Marines - carrying the battle-tested colors of our Corps.  You have carried them with pride and with honor; I ask you to carry them with me for just a while longer.

Semper Fidelis,
James T. Conway
General, U.S. Marine Corps

Commandant of the Marine Corps

[ice grillin you]

7 Feared Dead In Iraq Chopper Crash
All seven people aboard a CH-46 helicopter are believed dead after it crashed
Wednesday in Iraq.


MORE DETAILS: <http://www.nbc10.com/tu/5mtKYfB3Z.html>

[Diomedes]

3,115

30 this month already.

[Father Demon]

The video of the copter being shot down.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67SwkQTysLE

[ice grillin you]

maybe its just me showing my age but its amazing to me that a soldier can film the shooting down of a helicopter in iraq and have it on the internet 48 hrs later for me to watch at work

[Diomedes]

3,144

60 in 19 days of February 2007 and Bush is sending 21,500 MORE troops.   

U.S.A.!! U.S.A.!! U.S.A.!! U.S.A.!!

[Diomedes]

371 - Afgan War (2001-2007)
382 - Persian Gulf War (1990-1991)
2,260 - War of 1812 (1812-1815)
2,446 - Spanish-American War (1898)
3,185 - Iraq War (2003-2007)
4,435 - Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
13,283 - Mexican War (1846-1848)
36,574 - Korean War (1950-1953)
58,200 - Vietnam War (1964-1975)
116,516 - WWI (1917-1918)
405,399 - WWII (1941-1945)
498,332 - Civil War (1861-1865)

Afgan war will soon move out of last place. 

[SunMo]

i've never seen the numbers laid out like that.  farging shtein, almost 500K in the Civil War, wow.

[Diomedes]

and there were a lot fewer Americans back then, too.