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America's Lost 3,000 (In Iraq)
Time ^ | December 30, 2006 | NATHAN THORNBURGH

Posted on 12/31/2006 5:24:28 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

The death toll for U.S. soldiers in Iraq has reached 3,000, a number that's both unbearable and, compared to previous military operations, a pittance.

War can make poets. The British World War I soldier Wilfred Owen had lived as a minor disciple of literary giants until he was thrust into the abattoir of Europe's cataclysmic war to discover the brutal theme of his art. "Nor is it about deeds, or lands, nor anything about glory, honour, might, majesty, dominion, or power, except War," he wrote. "My subject is War, and the pity of War." The war invested meaning into his words, giving them a dark significance that still evokes heartbreak.

But can war provide similar meaning to a number? What can now be derived from reaching the grim milestone of 3,000 American dead in Iraq? The public's contemplation of the number should have little to do with the right or the wrong of American occupation, nor with the viability of that seed of peace America is meant to be sowing there. Wars are always paid in blood and numbered in lives lost, the value of that sacrifice doesn't rise or fall like penny stock depending on the popularity of a mission. The 3,000th death is as the first — dying being the pitiable but inextricable consequence of war.

(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: antiamericanism; army; communists; defeatocrats; democrats; gop; iraq; lsm; marinecorps; military; peacecreeps; proterrorist; republicans; saddamites; timelifecnnknew; usefulidiots
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To: newzjunkey
That country was betrayed by the Baby Boomers.

Give it a rest and put the pacifier back in your face, junior. By 1968, the oldest baby boomers were just hitting their 20s.

Pretend that you thought about that fact before you posted you boomer-bashing idiotic comment.

41 posted on 12/31/2006 6:49:48 PM PST by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
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To: matt1234

One of these days, I'm gonna make a compendium of all the various products and websites that we are urged to boycott.

Then I'll sit back and laugh at it because it will be next to impossible live without the goods/services all these companies provide.


42 posted on 12/31/2006 6:49:54 PM PST by Diverdogz
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To: Pan_Yans Wife
How many Americans die every year in auto accidents?

Really though. Let's not stop there. Why not callously compare the deaths of our troops to knife-fight deaths at US prisons?

43 posted on 12/31/2006 6:50:53 PM PST by Types_with_Fist (I'm on FReep so often that when I read an article at another site I scroll down for the comments.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

More than 3,000 American citizens were killed on Sept. 11, 2001. They, along with these American heros will always be remembered for their sacrifice. Time magazine doesn't get it, and neither do the rest of the MSM.


44 posted on 12/31/2006 6:54:33 PM PST by sissyjane (Don't be stuck on stupid!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I've often wondered why the 3,000th death, the 2,000th, 1,000th, or the 10th for that matter is more important than the 1st.

They are all heroes, all have died to try and keep our country safer, and for any publication to keep a "scorecard" and ballyhoo a certain number of deaths is not only morbid but our servicemen and servicewomen deserve so much better.

The MSM/DBM supports our troops like Saddam loved the people of Iraq. Jeez.......... A pox on the MSM/DBM.


45 posted on 12/31/2006 6:56:41 PM PST by Chuck54 (not yet..............)
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To: Chuck54

I wonder how many terrorists have been killed or permanently disabled, so they can't attack us anymore? How many thousands?


46 posted on 12/31/2006 7:01:02 PM PST by pleikumud
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Idiots.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1760559/posts?page=421#421


47 posted on 12/31/2006 7:03:03 PM PST by CDB
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To: Diverdogz
iOne of these days, I'm gonna make a compendium of all the various products and websites that we are urged to boycott.

Then I'll sit back and laugh at it because it will be next to impossible live without the goods/services all these companies provide.

I advocated boycotting a list of companies, all of which provide information and/or entertainment. Are you saying that you cannot live without these companies? I like information and entertainment, too, but I am selective about those I give money to. In fact, all I need is the Bible, the Constitution, and a few expository texts such as The Federalist Papers. Everything else is luxury. I am not anti-book; I own many hundreds. But how many do I really need? I certainly don't need People Magazine or CNN, which are parts of the anti-American AOL-Time-Warner conglomerate.

48 posted on 12/31/2006 7:06:36 PM PST by matt1234
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Makes you wonder how long they have had this article printed up to publish on the day the casualties hit 3,000... months would be my guess.


49 posted on 12/31/2006 7:06:52 PM PST by oolatec
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To: highlander_UW
Just giving 3000 as a number doesn't provide sufficient information to evaluate the situation. How many terrorists were killed in exchange for those 3000 and how many lives were saved over the next 50 years because those terrorists were stopped and/or killed?

With a Republican CinC, they don't care. With a Democrat CinC, they wouldn't ask (as in, there wouldn't be a problem).

And let's also remmber...though WE know...the 3000 dead in Iraq happened in a period of just under 4 years. The 3000 dead on 9-11, to which they will compare this, happened in a period of just under 2 HOURS. (of course, they blame that on President Bush, too...sigh)

50 posted on 12/31/2006 7:07:51 PM PST by Christian4Bush ("A gov't big enough to give you all is big enough to take it all from you." Gerald Ford 1913-2006)
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To: neutronsgalore

baloney


51 posted on 12/31/2006 7:10:03 PM PST by centurion316 (Democrats - Supporting Al Qaida Worldwide)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Hey Time Mag- 25 people are murdered or killed by ILLEGAL aliens EVERY SINGLE DAY here in the U.S- NO let up- EVERY day!!! Our soldiers are fighting so that the number of military deaths you are so enamured by won't be in the 10's of 1000's you freaking dolts!!! http://sacredscoop.com


52 posted on 12/31/2006 7:10:12 PM PST by CottShop
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To: pleikumud

You'll never get that info from the MSM/DBM. Too PC to be counting dead/wounded enemy.

Sigh!


53 posted on 12/31/2006 7:11:53 PM PST by Chuck54 (not yet..............)
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To: Professor Kill; Eaker; concerned about politics
Professor Kill, you are one of the most insulting, rude, and arrogant individuals on these boards. Do not insult the intelligence of a poster who correctly points out the number of deaths in blue cities exceeds those in Iraq.

For evidence, here is a link to the FBI preliminary spreadsheet for 2006.

Your posting history says more about you than those you are responding to.
54 posted on 12/31/2006 7:12:11 PM PST by HipShot ("Remember the first rule of gunfighting... have a gun." --Colonel Jeff Cooper)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

FLU deaths have increased since the '60s
Averaging 36,000 a year.

Illegal aliens murder 12 Americans a day, 12,000 since the war started.

The 3000 dead soldiers is sad, but bearable in a real sense and a testament to great doctors, tactics, and training.


55 posted on 12/31/2006 7:14:02 PM PST by omega4179 (Just say no to riNOs)
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To: centurion316

"baloney"

That's it? How BOTish of you.


56 posted on 12/31/2006 7:14:47 PM PST by neutronsgalore (Nature, getting rid of Muslims one tsunami at a time.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"Where is the country my dad fought for in the Pacific?"

In the country your father fought for, military decisions were made by generals like Eisenhower, Patton and MacArthur. Today the decisions are made by civilians and "Wesley Clark"-type generals.

In the country your father fought for, if a scared 18 year old accidentally killed some civilians, it was a battlefield mistake. Today that 18 year old can be in prison for life.

In the country your father fought for, there were no PC-based rules. The main objective was to destroy the enemy without getting killed.

In the war your father fought, it would have been over several months ago. The Iraq invasion has gone on longer than WWII and apparently we don't know if we're winning or losing.

I am not saying this to sound defeatist, but simply because we don't seem to have a decent strategy and I am getting as sick of FReepers comparisons between U.S. Casualties in Iraq to Civil War casualties as I am with media's daily casualty counts.

I want to win this thing; not have another Vietnam. I expect to get bashed. Fire away.
57 posted on 12/31/2006 7:22:23 PM PST by BW2221
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To: armymarinemom

Like I always say, the left will pop champagne and hold a pol pot luck. I don't care what they think.

I sometimes wish there was some way to throw just them to the very wolves they protect without hurting any good people.


58 posted on 12/31/2006 7:35:50 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult (The man who said "there's no such thing as a stupid question" has never talked to Helen Thomas.)
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To: Eaker; concerned about politics; HipShot

Its such an astoundingly stupid argument, I don't think it really needs refutation, but here you go anyway.

C.A.P. used the example of Philadelphia, so let's go with that: Philadelphia has a murder rate (very roughly) of about 25 per 100,000 residents. There were (roughly) 820 U.S. troops killed this year in Iraq. That's a rate of about 683 per 100,000. That's a bit of a difference.

Now let's take a look at Baghdad. It isn't unusual for fifty bodies a day to be discovered in Baghdad. Fifty. That's a city of about seven million. As far as I know, there aren't fifty bodies a day being discovered in the Chicago metropolitan area. That's a bit of a difference, don't you think.

To argue that Iraq is as safe as the "liberal strongholds" here in the U.S. is absolutely dishonest.


59 posted on 12/31/2006 7:42:02 PM PST by Professor Kill
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

4213 people were MURDERED in New York City and suburbs this year alone. Whining LIBS suck.



60 posted on 12/31/2006 7:43:43 PM PST by LC HOGHEAD (Thirty years ago scientists warned about "Global Cooling" and a New Ice Age.)
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