2008 Woodie Awards
U.S. Death Toll in Iraq Surpasses 1,500
Kevin Agnese
Issue date: 3/23/05 Section: Perspectives
- Page 1 of 2 next >
As the two-year anniversary of the war in Iraq approached, a grim and tragic number was surpassed: 1,500. The calendar hit March, the troops continued to heroically fight, and insurgents continued to set-off roadside bombs. As of Mar. 11, 1,508 American service members have been killed since George W. Bush sent them to die in a preemptive war based on his lies. These men and woman are the bravest citizens in our nation, and they deserve our admiration and respect. I only wish the so-called Commander-in-Chief had an exit strategy, so that our troops could come home safe.
According to the Feb. 27 broadcast of "The McLaughlin Group," there have been 35,500 U.S. military personnel who have either been wounded, injured, or who are now mentally ill, since the war began. The show also cited a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University that claimed 106,900 Iraqi civilians have lost their lives since the war began on March 19, 2003.
I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of this war. I can't stomach the images shown on the news of another family being told that their son or daughter has died in Iraq. I grieve for each and every lost soldier, and I fear for those still on the front lines. It is truly heartbreaking to hear of yet another fatality, and another family destroyed forever. I really hope Bush thinks about that the next time he sits down for a steak dinner at the ranch.
The basic question in Iraq has to be, what is victory? When will we know that we have achieved complete success? As our troops have their tours of duty extended (sometimes twice), they deserve the truth and the full facts. What is our exit strategy? When do we plan to relinquish full control to the Iraqis? Why aren't we training more Iraqi soldiers? Why aren't we reaching out to the international community for help? Why don't we have the necessary body armor and armored vehicles to protect ourselves? How much longer do we have to watch our friends die?
Anti-war demonstrations took place from Maine to California on Mar. 19 to mark the second anniversary of the start of the war, as protesters pleaded with the president to bring the troops home. Whether they gathered in Central Park, or at the Courthouse on the square in Denton, Texas, or at Catalina Park in Tucson, Arizona, the message seemed to be unified: Support our troops by bringing them home!
According to the Feb. 27 broadcast of "The McLaughlin Group," there have been 35,500 U.S. military personnel who have either been wounded, injured, or who are now mentally ill, since the war began. The show also cited a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University that claimed 106,900 Iraqi civilians have lost their lives since the war began on March 19, 2003.
I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of this war. I can't stomach the images shown on the news of another family being told that their son or daughter has died in Iraq. I grieve for each and every lost soldier, and I fear for those still on the front lines. It is truly heartbreaking to hear of yet another fatality, and another family destroyed forever. I really hope Bush thinks about that the next time he sits down for a steak dinner at the ranch.
The basic question in Iraq has to be, what is victory? When will we know that we have achieved complete success? As our troops have their tours of duty extended (sometimes twice), they deserve the truth and the full facts. What is our exit strategy? When do we plan to relinquish full control to the Iraqis? Why aren't we training more Iraqi soldiers? Why aren't we reaching out to the international community for help? Why don't we have the necessary body armor and armored vehicles to protect ourselves? How much longer do we have to watch our friends die?
Anti-war demonstrations took place from Maine to California on Mar. 19 to mark the second anniversary of the start of the war, as protesters pleaded with the president to bring the troops home. Whether they gathered in Central Park, or at the Courthouse on the square in Denton, Texas, or at Catalina Park in Tucson, Arizona, the message seemed to be unified: Support our troops by bringing them home!