Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Iraq Today

"A roadside bombing in Fallujah killed four American servicemen and fourteen Iraqi civilians. So far 48 wounded have been accounted for. Efforts have been stepped up in the area to quell the recent surges in violence." This is not a real broadcast or news real, however I'm sure that it wouldn't surprise you if it were. We are all too familiar with hearing this in the news bulletins.

So far, 4,235 U.S. soldiers, 178 British soldiers and 139 soldiers from other nations have made the ultimate sacrifice in the Coalition's efforts to remove Saddam Hussein and restore order to the nation. Tens of thousands of Coalition servicemen have been wounded in this great crusade by the Western powers. This seems like a harsh number, and it really is for a conflict of this magnitude. That's over 10,000 parents who don't have a son anymore, sisters who have lost their brothers and vice versa. Not to mention the thousands of children who will grow up without one of their parents. Nobody knows the cost of war more than these people. 

Another figure to throw into the mix, and one of the largest recruiters of insurgents, is the civilian death toll in Iraq. Estimates go from 100,000 all the way to one million dead (although this seems quite extreme to me). Whether it's from an IED or a stray bomb, no sane person wants to see innocent civilians caught and ended in the snare of war. There is no doubt that when this happens, there are those family members and friends who want retribution, and would even be willing to take up arms against the oppressors (Coalition troops) to satisfy their bloody revenge. Many people who have been turned against the Iraqi insurgents, and even the Iraqi people in some cases have no idea what it's like for a foreign country to invade your own, murdering thousands in its deadly path. Just something to consider...

23 comments:

  1. so true. when i was there, there were 11,000 murders a month. it was terrible. we were there during the height of their civil war. i've been painting about my time in iraq, you can see it on my blog if you're interested...

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  2. Thanks for signing on as a follower - and thanks also for commenting on the vids -
    I just posted another music vid - this one by TNT - 10,000 Lovers - see if you can see that one !

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  3. Oh, and on your top comments - absolutely - you should get a copy of The Most Dangerous Superstition, by Larkin Rose. The superstition he refers to is the belief in the right of some to wield authority over everyone else, which he (Rose) argues is complete bullshit that leads to every sort of oppression and evil.
    A great read ! I'll see if i can scare you up a copy.

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  4. See, you used the word "sane" in there. I think a lot of folks are not necessarily sane.. just my opinion.

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  5. Great post. I heard today they are pressing to have all the troops home from Afghanistan soon, by the end of 2012.

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  6. @Burduro Hopefully, but I doubt it.

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  7. @SHoTs you're right, this war no doubt will last another 10 years

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  8. Extremely well written post, not an easy subject matter.

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  9. @some guy, I hope you're wrong.

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  10. If the U.S. got out of Iraq then no more Americans would have to be killed by Iraqi insurgents, simple.

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  11. Like your posts man,
    very interesting.

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  12. This really makes you think. We all have something to be grateful for...

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  13. I'm not even sure why Americans are still in Iraq.

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  14. I don't even know why Americans feel the need to be in Iraq.

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  15. Its not even about the oil anymore :S, people are DYING! followed

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  16. Do you think that American involvement in Iraq is actually worth it?

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  17. intelligent post. my brother is over there and i just want him home safe. +followed

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  18. Goodluck to all the troops. Everyone is proud of them. +follow

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  19. Great post and fascinating blog. Seriously, keep it up.

    Followed.

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  20. Every year we hear about bringing them home sooner, and every year that date gets pushed back

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  21. So sad, just a terrible waste of lives.

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