[Steve_Seattle]

I am not ex-military, so can someone explain to me why there are so many "accidental" deaths [of soldiers] in Iraq (and presumably other wars)? Is it because in war the military is doing a lot of dangerous things that aren't technically combat-related? Is it poor training? Carelessness? As Donahue used to say, "Can somebody help me with this?"

[TexKat]

I am not ex-military, so can someone explain to me why there are so many "accidental" deaths [of soldiers] in Iraq (and presumably other wars)?

I am not a military nor ex-military person either Steve_Seattle. However I am aware of quite a few casulties and accidentes even without war, just in training. We are just not so tuned in to them as we are here. Probably not all home accidents are reported.

[archy]

I am not ex-military, so can someone explain to me why there are so many "accidental" deaths [of soldiers] in Iraq (and presumably other wars)? Is it because in war the military is doing a lot of dangerous things that aren't technically combat-related? Is it poor training? Carelessness? As Donahue used to say, "Can somebody help me with this?"

We've lost about 200 killed by enemy fire and about 100 killed not as a result of hostile action since President Bush declared the war concluded and the occupational phase beginning. I recall one of the divisions I was with in Vietnam as having a ratio of closer to 3:1 over a years period, but that was almost all regular army troops, though including conscripts, and they had a whole year's statistics to consider- the whole data for this year isn't in yet.

One factor is that the vehicles generally carry more- we moved 6 0r 8 in a Huey helicopter, and about the same number, 5 or 6 in an M113 personnel carrier most of the time, while our jeeps carried 3 or 4.

The Blackhawks can carry a full 11-man squad, as can the Stryker wheeled armored cars, nearly doubling the casualty numbers when either vehicle is lost, whether to enemy action or an accident. And thew Humvee can easily be carrying twice what a jeep did, and so forth.

It's not quite a comparison of apples and oranges. But it's like a comparison of different varieties of apples, or Florida tangerines versus California Oranges.

-archy-/-

[Squantos]

http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx

Breaks down the specifics for ya.......Stay Safe !