Oh my how things change. At the height of the Vietnam War we lost 120+ Americans per week. NVA and VC casualties were much higher. Of course the Vietnamese were a far more competent enemy than these ragheads who rely on Allah to guide their bullets. In Korea we lost another 50000 Americans in 3 years. 500000 in WW2.
Count on the press to exaggerate everything.
The loss of life is tragic no matter the number when the good guys are getting killed.
You underestimate the ability of ISIS. In the beginning they were almost unstoppable. The tanks, personnel carriers, heavy machine guns, anti tank weapons over powered all who attempted to stop them. And the poor Kurds only had small arms. (they captured some of the heavy stuff)
During the Siege of Kobane in Sep/Oct 2014 it almost went down. Some of my friends and I begged and pleaded for air cover to save them. Finally in mid October at the last possible moment, Obama agreed and killed the tanks and artillery there. That was the beginning of the struggle that is here now. I have great respect for the Kurds and their allies.
They need apologize to no one for bravery and doing much with little.