Today and Always, Let Us Remember Them
Despite liberals protesting the military, loathing U.S. foreign policy, and decrying the thousands of lives lost by American troops and “innocent Iraqis,” the United States military has never been stronger and more efficient at saving lives and minimizing casualties. (Hattip: Defense spending and advanced military technologies)
“In a democratic world, there are violations of human rights, but they are revealed and dealt with. In a fear society [e.g. run by dictators like Saddam, Stalin, and Hitler], there are no violations of human rights because human rights just don’t exist.” — Natan Sharansky, Time Magazine, June 6, 2005
God Bless America!
The Cost of Freedom: Casualties of War
A Historical Perspective
(U.S. Total Dead)
As of May 25, 2005
Iraq War
(1,656 Americans)
1,836 coalition troop deaths
At least 12,630 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.
Afghanistan: Operation Enduring Freedom
(184 Americans)
221 coalition deaths
Wikipedia notes: “[I]t has been the least bloody war in modern Afghan history. For example, about 1.8 million people were killed during the Afghan Civil war and subsequent Soviet Invasion.”
Vietnam War
(58,167 Americans)
South Vietnam/United States
Total dead: 287,232
Wounded: 1,496,037
North Vietnam/Viet Cong
Total dead:Conservative estimates: 200,000 to 300,000
Wounded: 600,000
Civilian Casualties: c. 2â€â€4 million
Korean War
(54,000 Americans)
500,000+ South Koreans
1,500,000 Chinese and North Koreans
World War II
(407,000 Americans)
TOTAL Allied soldiers killed: approximately 16.2 million
TOTAL Axis soldiers killed: approximately 6,800,000
TOTAL soldiers killed (all): approximately 23 million
TOTAL Civilians killed: up to 57 million
TOTAL people killed in World War II: up to 80 million
World War I
(126,000 Americans)
Total Allied soldiers killed: approximately 5.17 million
TOTAL soldiers killed worldwide: approximately 8.6 million
TOTAL civilians killed: approximately 56.5 million
TOTAL people killed in World War I: up to 66 million
American Civil War
(558, 052 Americans)
American Revolutionary War
(c. 25, 000 Americans)
CNN provides a graph of the U.S. War Casualties (1775-Present)
(Click on graphic to enlarge)
May 30th, 2005 at 12:18 pm
Memorial Day: Thank You
President Bush’s Memorial Day Radio Address:
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This Memorial Day weekend, Americans pay tribute to those who have given their lives in the service of our nation. As we honor the members of our Armed Forces who have …
May 30th, 2005 at 2:09 pm
I wrote an article almost identical to this around Christmas time. Mosul & American Casualties The point of your article is an excellent one: that soldiers bend over backwards to prevent civilian casualties and are more proficient in doing so. My husband is active duty and served in Iraq for a year (Feb.’03-Feb.’04) as an 82nd ABN DIV paratrooper and can personally attest to this. At their own expense and to their own peril, soldiers take risks to ensure the safety of civilians.
When the BBC reported that 60%+ of all civilian casualites were committed by American troops, they grossly misled (to be polite) the truth. They neglected to mention that terrorists are responsible for the vast majority of all civilian casualties in Iraq. Buzzards.
The casuality comparisons of various wars is a testament to the proficiency with which we’re fighting the war in Iraq. Although US soldiers of course have died and probably will die in Iraq, the casualty number is astoundingly low when compared with other engagements. We’re getting better at protecting civilians as well as our own soldiers because the military is becoming more sophisticated and precise.
So when war protesters lament US casuality rates in Iraq, they’re being disingenuous. They don’t care about the US soldier nor the Iraqi people. They care about their personal agenda (social and moral Darwinism) and cannot offer a rebuttal for the low casualty rate in Iraq, particularly compared to previous wars, except to chant, “Unjust war! Bush lied, people died!” The reality is that this anti-war movement would have us still paying taxes to England, slavery in the South and Nazism & Communism spreading throughout the world. Although they would never admit to it, the logical conclusion is exactly the same.
Good article.
May 30th, 2005 at 3:12 pm
PHOTOBLOG: The Veterans Historical Plaza Grand Opening
In 2000, then Assemblyman George Runner led the effort, supported by Senator Pete Knight, to secure $250,000 in State funding through the Department of Veterans Affairs for land acquisition of one-half acre for a Santa Clarita Historical Veterans Plaz…
July 1st, 2005 at 9:33 am
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