The SwampThing

A letter to the media,maybe?

These last 2 weeks have been fertile in lethal incidents, involving the iraqi people and the invading US Army. Or perhaps these latest incidents have been getting a lot more media coverage...
The cold fact is, since George W.Bush announced the end of major operations in Iraq, some 61 US soldiers have died, and hundreds or even thousands were wounded.The British forces have lost about 30, and a few hundred wounded.
The number of seriouslly wounded soldiers who ended up dying, has not been revealed entirelly.
So, it is safe to say that some 200 US and British soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq.
Many of those who have already returned home, are suffering from what many call Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or Gulf War Syndrome.
And what about the iraqi numbers?
Unknowned...
It is entirely speculation, but it is safe to admit that the total number of fatalities in the iraqi side has reached the vicinity of tenths of thousands!
Not counting wounded, or the later deceased in result of wounds.
And the number keeps rising every day.
The daily routine in Iraq seems to revolve around one scary reality: Death!
The attacks repeat themselfs on a daily base. The US Army is no longer on the ofensive. They are strugling to hold on to what they can, while always on the defensive. The fear is present in every man�s mind, trying to guess from wich direction the next attack will come from.
The harsh, cold, and bloody reality is that this conflict is getting out of control. The US has a new Vietnam on their hands, with a true potential for catastrophic results.
When will the US people realize the true nature of what is happening half across the world? When will they realize that this war is utterlly wrong and immoral?
How many will die, so that Bush and Co. can have their way?
And more important, how can such an advanced society like the american, become so blind and irresponsible? How could they have left it get to this point?

Democracy is a good concept, but it has a major flaw:
When mistakes are made, society needs to wait 4 years before it can try to mend all the wrongs...
The work of a lifetime, can be shattered in just an instant, by the drop of a ballot bearing the wrong name.

The media has a huge responsability, to ensure that the public gets a true and accurate apraisal of the facts taking place. But that is not the case here.
When the war started, every TV set in the world was flodded with images of a live war. We all saw the tanks rolling, the tracer bullits flying, and the boms dropping. But then, suddenlly, it all stopped!! The reporters came home, the networks resumed their normal broadcasting, and the numbers ceased to come in...
Why? Why did the media stopped broadcasting live news , reports, or just plain reporting what was happening?
Were they prevented of doing their jobs? No one believes that it was due to security reasons... If it was safe enough for them to be in the thick of battle during the major operations, surelly it would be relativelly safe to do so after the major ops were putted to an end, right?
The last 2 weeks have been prolific in attacks and casualties, but we still don�t see any real news reporting in Iraq.
Is it because the White House doesn�t want no one to see what they are up to?
Anyway, it�s essential that the US Army discloses the real numbers of this conflict.
How many soldiers died? How many wounded? How many choppers and airplanes were lost in action? How many tanks and vehicles destroyed?
The world needs to know the truth. Stop covering it up!!
:banghead: :banghead:

P.Samn, how the hell did this post ever got so big??? So sorry, so so sorry...!!
I was in a roll!!!

Cheiron

Well, I hate to be the cynic, who am I kidding i love being the cynic, it guarantees i'm right 90% of the time.

Anywho. For an iraqi death count go here

http://www.iraqbodycount.net/

As for aussie american and british deaths, I couldn't tell you, thus far I think we've almost broken even for the number of soldier's who've died during the "war" and during the "peace" and the number who died during the war should be easy to find, after all the pentagon wants to show people how well those 50,000 dollar hammers are saving lives.

Evangelion

There have been no Australian casualties, AFAIK.

jon1

I should point out that Gulf War Syndrome is not post-traumatic stess disorder. Gulf War Syndrome is the illness that many Gulf War vets supposedly have due to chemical agents used during the war. I say supposedly only because I haven't researched it enough to really know so if anybody knows more than I do feel free to jump in.

Nog

It was actually caused by the radiation of a depleted uranium shell(used by the m1) that destroyed a armored vehicle of somesort. The troops would get to close to the destroyed vehicles causing the "Gulf War Syndrome".

azazel

Why do you all have to give so much of a damn how many ignorant yankee grunts get iced? Why do the headlines always start with American casualties and meanders towards the Iraqis?
Goddamn Politricksters... I'm going to vietnam in a few weeks and you know what I'm going to see on the streets of Saigon? armless beggars. AGENT ORANGE.

jon1

"It was actually caused by the radiation of a depleted uranium shell(used by the m1) that destroyed a armored vehicle of somesort. The troops would get to close to the destroyed vehicles causing the "Gulf War Syndrome"."

Ah there it is, thanks for the correction.

auto-da-fe

Out of all the spelling errors, this one is my favorite.

Corwin

Hyped up nonsense.

DPU rounds are basically nonradioactive. You get about the same level of exposure from them that you get from your household smoke detector.

Exposure to chemical weapons or their components is a much more likely explanation.

Optional

Nah. It's not been proven at all that Gulf War Syndrome actually exists, much less what caused it, but if it does exist, one good explanation would indeed be soldiers getting too close to armored vehicles destroyed by DPU rounds.

Not because of radiation, you're right... But depleted uranium is one of the most chemically toxic substances around... So, I guess you're right chemical weapons are to blame. Ours.

-me