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 ...
You miss my point.
I DO grieve for the fallen in Iraq, they are on my mind constantly and I am grateful for their service. This act of grieving is both deliberate and purposeful.
In comparison to other numbers of people who have died, it needs to be remembered that people in general do not mourn over the 35,000 car deaths in a given year.
The fallen SOLDIERS hold more importance in terms of their sacrifice... but there are other casualties in life and perspective is necessary to form a bigger picture
Keeping the number low is a priority.
But being realistic is called for.
"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?"
The only response I can make to your reply is that, at least, 2 of the 3000 gave their live to save/protect the lives of others in their units.
I honor the lives that have been given to protect this nation.
Not to mention auto accidents caused by drunk drivers, who have had numerous DWIs, get off thanks to courts and their lawyers and end up driving and killing innocent people time and time again. Where the hell is the MSM in reporting that!!
At Ant. in MD., in the hedge-rows, almost 20,000 men died within a few hours of massive cannonading in the Civil War. I am thankful that these fine military heroes knew their mission, have protected me and my family and my nation from the horrid, evil Islamofascists. I pray for no casualities. Of course, that is futile. So I pray that our military and our govt. leadership will continue to war against the jihadists and let it be known what a great job they have done. 3,000 deaths is a horror but for what they have achieved in two ME pagan 7th century areas, is nothing short of a miracle and if the jihadists can be stopped and thrown out of that area, two peoples will be able to keep their religion and area free from constant terror, murder and dictatorship. This is a world war and only the Left, the Dems, and the old media do not know it plus the 'stupid' voters who actually think one can ignore evil.
"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."
You want to know if we are winning or losing. The first question you should ask is what land we have lost.
Not what land we never had, that we still don't have. Not what land we had some control of and still do not have complete control of, but what land have we lost? Answer that question, and you will know if we are winning or losing this war.
All else is propaganda.
And that are are those that want us to feel guilty for winning WWII.
I'll give Time credit for attempting to be fair and put things in perpective. However, these dweebs will never understand that the willingness of our best to fight is what helps them to sit in their cynical, self-important LazyBoys, smoking their expensive cigars, sipping their fine wine.....and criticize with no consequence.
Amen, and add all those who have been maimed, physically and mentally, their lives changed forever. They are also owed.
Absolutely. Thankfully.
"BOYCOTT THEM ALL!"
"38. Turner Classic Movies"
Nope, not happening....
Sure. Go driving down the street in Philly, then kit up in a Humvee and go on patrol in Baghdad. We'll see which one you think is more dangerous.
3,000 brave soldiers, a tough number these days. But the conclusion of this "news" is, that everyone has to make sure they didn´t die in vain! God bless those who stand right now with their boots in the sand to defend the free and democratic Iraq!
"Sure. Go driving down the street in Philly, then kit up in a Humvee and go on patrol in Baghdad. We'll see which one you think is more dangerous."
hahaha...good reply to Capt. Keyboard in Ft. Livingroom...
As do I. By way of clarification, I am not in any way suggesting that lives were wasted. My point was simply that by simply citing numbers of dead American soldiers ignores the whole of reality...of course sticking their heads in the sand is what liberals excel at. Clearly we can't know the exact numbers of lives saved over the next 50 years, but it's quite possible that hundreds of thousands or maybe even millions have been saved...of course liberals are so irrational they can't grasp such things.
["God bless those who stand right now with their boots in the sand to defend the free and democratic Iraq!"]
You're making me think too hard my good friend...That is, I'm beginning to wonder if God knows who's on (his) side?
They are not being nationalized to support the troops to get it done.
They have no war bonds, no anti-islam propaganda, no propaganda at all, no mass recruiting efforts to get more troops, no videos on the news of terrorist being terrorist, no effort to demonize the islamist by the gov't, no trials and punishment against the news media for leaking valuable documents.
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