Posted on 09/07/2004 4:28:53 PM PDT by Libloather
US soldiers in Iraq say 1,000 death toll meaningless
2 hours, 30 minutes ago
BAQUBA, Iraq (AFP) - The deaths of 1,000 American troops in Iraq since the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein has only strengthened US resolve to restore security to the strife-torn country, soldiers said.
Dismissing parallels with the 1961-75 war in Vietnam, officers lashed out at the media for playing the grim-reaper over the mounting casualty toll and failing to appreciate the sacrifices made by each soldier.
"It sucks. The newspapers glorify it. Everyday, reporting the numbers going up and up, trying to push a point," said Captain Gregory Wingard, 39, at the 1st Infantry Division's Camp Warhorse near Baquba, north of Baghdad.
"Sad as it is for those 1,000 families and their friends, they're nothing to the number of Iraqis that get killed trying to defend their own families," he added, smoking a cigar with friends under the stars.
"There's one word you have to push back at them. Gettsburg: 63,000 killed in a single day," said Sergeant Kimberly Snow, 35, from Ohio, refering to the US civil war battle.
The conversation turns to a comrade, a Muslim US soldier who was killed in June when a suicide bomber blew up a car outside the north gate of the base.
"I'm nervous, sure, because you don't know. When I lay down on my rack for the first 10 minutes I'm listening for mortars," said Wingard.
The bombs make him "I want to get that bastard."
US patrols are considered combat missions and soldiers have to be prepared to the worst every time they roll out of their bases.
"There's always a fear in the back of your head, but you can't let it take over," said Snow, speaking about the soldiers' biggest scourge -- the improvised explosive device, known as IEDs to the army, or a roadside bomb to civilians.
"The scary thing is its not like facing a normal enemy and you've got a good chance of fighting back. You're just tooling down the road and boom there's an explosion," said National Guard Major Tony Quinn, from North Carolina.
"If 1,000 died today, that'd be pretty significant, but its just another number," said 36-year-old Quinn, who is based along the Iran-Iraqi border.
"Every single soldier knows the risk. You do the best you can with your day and don't think about it. If I was to get killed tomorrow by an IED, I would not regret coming over here," said Captain Michael Adams, 37, from Oregon.
"Six months ago people were afraid of their own shadow. Now I've seen kids playing in the park, farmers are out working. Now they can have a chance at rebuilding their country," he added.
"Obviously when you loose people, its a tragic time. But you don't loose morale. It strengthens your resolve," said Specialist Robert Bybee, 21, deployed in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit.
But for several young soldiers, barely old enough to graduate from college or have a beer in a US bar, the horror of war and the separation from loved ones is wearing thin.
"I'm scared even to take a shower in case they mortar us. I want to go home and be with my wife and start a family," said Specialist Luis Cruz, 21, from Puerto Rico, also based near Baquba.
But none of the soldiers accept any similarities with Vietnam, where tens of thousands of soldiers were killed before the United States finally withdrew.
"Once in a while people make comparisons, but I don't think the majority of soldiers feel there are any similarities," said Quinn.
"We are winning the hearts and minds... It's nothing like Vietnam. We're still missing 60,000, 52,000 were killed. We've had 1,000 soldiers die, how can you make a comparison?" said Wingard.
CNN and MSNBC (websites) are in co-hoots (spelling ??) - When one displays the same headline as FOX the other displays its anti Bush headline (Next day the order are reversed). Am I Imagining...
I heard tonight on FNC that over 1000 College Students commit suicide every year! It took 18 monthe to get to 1000 soldiers, sailors and Marines killed in Iraq.
"Obviously when you loose people, its a tragic time. But you don't loose morale. It strengthens your resolve," said Specialist Robert Bybee, 21, deployed in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit.
AFP obviously doesn't have editors, at least that speak English.
Iraq - 25 million
Afghanistan - 28 million
Huh?
Were missing 60,000?
Unfortunately in these days of hyper emotional Oprah BS, that analogy renders you an uncaring bastard.
The youngsters in this article have a good grip on reality and the relativity of history.
If the Democrats actually pretended to be Americans and did not bad-mouth the war while our soldiers are in harm's way, the death toll would be closer to 500...the blood is on their hands.
Democrats claim to be patriotic...but for which side?
DD
And the soldiers are in the killing business too.
This was on Yahoo News?
I pray your son comes home safe and sound.
Here is some info on college student suicides:Suicide was the second leading cause of death among college students in 2002. ("Fact Sheets," National Mental Health Association: http://www.nmha.org/camh/college/fact_sheets.cfm ) Over 10,000 college students attempt suicide each year, and about 10 percent succeed. ("Suicide Continues on the Rise in our Society," Mind Publications: http://www.mindpub.com/art176.htm )Source: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=392764
Yeah--the writer is loosing the battle with grammer and speling, but is hopefully not playing two losely with the fax!
God Bless you and your son. My family appreciates the sacrifice that he is making to defend our country and is grateful that there are men like him to do this duty.
And we are all praying that he and all his pals come back whole and safe to a loving and grateful America.
God love and bless the courageous heart of a mother. You raised a son with the same heart. Thank you and thank him.
It sickens me, and should sicken every American, that the RAT lapdog meia is acually cheering the daths of American servicemen. I really can't believe how low these traitors will go to "help" kerry. They should be shot.
Not college age but close enough......
3,971
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24. In 2001, 3,971 suicides were reported in this group (Anderson and Smith 2003).
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/suifacts.htm
As a former English teacher, errors like using "loose" incorrectly really bug me, but as a mother of an Army soldier the attempts by the MSM to "Vietnamize" the Iraq war make me absolutely furious!!
How DARE they use the natural sympathies for loss of life to undermine the morale and resolve of our troops! And if they say they aren't doing that intentionally--I say BS! And--seems to me--the soldiers interviewed for this article are also saying a major BS to those in the media who try to wrap their anti-war sentiments in camoflauge so no-one will accuse them of being anti-military!
yeah, my bad... but it's still the lowest ratio of KIA to Freed People in history.
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