The following map shows wounded troops by state sustained in Iraq. These are just injuries. There were 4416 American deaths in Iraq over the 7.5 year war. Data is from iCasualties.org.
The human toll of the Iraq war is unacceptable. There were thousands of American and coalition forces injured or killed, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis injured or killed. To me, it should be known as the legalized mass murder of hundreds of thousands of people. I’m not even going to start in on CIA black sites, Guantanamo, and torture.
My biggest frustration is that no one will likely be held accountable for it. President Obama has had no stomach for going after war criminals. If he lets them off Scott-free, what does that say about committing war crimes as Americans? Nothing good or defensible, and history will not look kindly on this. It’s no way to earn the hearts and minds of the Middle East and Islamic world, the best way to protect our national security.
Iraq was a war of choice, a preventive war. Preventive war is also known as imperialism. For all our imperialistic actions, we spent a trillion dollars and lost many lives. In history, imperialists usually gain something for themselves by invading another country, not that it’s right or something we should have been doing. We’ve lost much and gained nothing.
Because of Iraq, we put Afghanistan on the back burner. The Afghanistan war was won and could have been over by 2003 at the latest. It’s 2010 and we’re escalating the fight. We’re about to hit year 10 in this war. So far, 1269 U.S. soldiers have been killed. Five U.S. soldiers died in combat today (Aug. 31, 2010, included in the total).
There is a map for Afghanistan, and I’ll post it separately when I discuss that war later.
Iraq war, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, U.S. casualties Afghanistan, U.S. casualties Iraq
September 1st, 2010 at 1:31 am
Human Toll of Iraq War » Being the Change I Wish to See…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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October 3rd, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Dear Sherri -
As usual, you add much to the Internet with your careful research and brilliant writing.
I am wondering if you should contact the Huffington Post and apply there as a writer. I believe they will even pay you.
This report is staggering and so clear.
There is nothing to add to it. Just keep doing it. The world needs you.
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:10 pm
With “Burn the Quran”, “Tax Cuts” and tales of “Witch Craft” keeping the media busy, and the war in Iraq having officially ended, it might be a while before the nation’s interest shifts back to “Human Toll.” And for those who support the war, “Human Toll” is simply the price to pay for a just and noble cause. Remember those just and noble WMD’s?
- Beat
Beat Schindler´s last [type] ..Protected- Guilty Pleasures
October 4th, 2010 at 10:10 am
I live right next to Ft. Carson. I see the toll the war is having on the children of the soldiers, the crazy drivers on the highway after they come back from war. The spouses left behind. The reports of the dead.
October 4th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Regardless of whether going to Iraq was right or wrong, the toll on people and families is almost immeasurable in any war. Thanks Sherri.
Joel´s last [type] ..How To Be Psychic- Preempting Your Customers’ Needs
October 4th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
These wars are very sad, but there is a lot of blame to go around. However when it comes to the media I always say, “Don’t always believe what you read.”
Maybe we need to recruit another General Patton to clean up the mess that has been created. Just a thought.
Debbie
October 4th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
As someone who has participated in two armed conflicts for the USA, I am sickened by our misplaced priorities, poor response to the real threats and doing things that distract us from our mission and ruin morale. It is awful to be in a war and worse when it is on your land. We need to decide what the real threat is and handle it. It becomes about money and profits not human lives ruined or destroyed.
Bruce´s last [type] ..Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-03
October 5th, 2010 at 12:02 am
A sobering reminder of the true cost of ill thought out political decisions. In Tony Blairs recent autobiography he still thinks he was doing what was right at the time, as I’m sure do most of the politicians involved. And now he’s a Middle East Peace Envoy!!!!
David Rogers´s last [type] ..Achieve One Goal