Iraq toll tops '91 - Total now 294 after two U.S. soldiers killed

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/117234p-105701c.html

WASHINGTON - Two more U.S. troops were killed in Iraq yesterday, bringing the death toll to 294 and surpassing the casualty figures in the Persian Gulf War of 1991.

The grim milestone was reached as President Bush was saluting the Army's just-returned 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, Ga.

The two soldiers were killed and eight were wounded in a firefight in Ramadi, a western town that the division patrolled until it was recently relieved.

Military officials also reported the worst friendly-fire incident since the fall of Baghdad in Fallujah, about 30 miles west of the capital.

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[saigon68]

1. BRING EM ON

We have seen nothing yet, wait til someone pulls a Beirut.

[ChewToy]

5. Exactly what I keep thinking

At some point they'll get a bomb into a concentrated facility.

Of course, anybody with an ounce of brains and a little bit of reading would've feared this before we even went in.

[Barrett808]

6. I've been expecting something big for a few weeks

The UN HQ bombing was pretty big, but I'm thinking really big, like the destruction of an entire refinery. Or worse. I'm very worried about the radioactive stuff looted from Tuwaitha.

[leftchick]

2. I am sure it is many more than that...

The military has not counted the wounded soldiers that die off the "field" that I am aware of.

[Minstrel Boy]

3. Next up: the Spanish American War

385 battle deaths.

Though since the White House spun this as the "battle of Iraq," shouldn't we be tabulating together all US casualties in the war on terra?

[Sushi_lover]

4. Passed Reagan's misadventure in Beirut (241 Marines killed)

Reagan lost 241 on an ill-advised "presence" in the Middle East.

Oh but the Media and Free Republic will keep harping Black Hawk Down (18 dead) is Clinton's fault and the Iran hostage rescue attempt (8 dead) is Carter's fault.

[saigon68]

8. THEN THERE IS THIS

If you are able,
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.



Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
Written in Dak To, Vietnam 1 January 1970
Missing in Action 24 March 1970
Group Identification 06/2001 - DNA Match

[NNN0LHI]

11. Thanks for that. Poetry always catches my eye more so than just rhetoric

Much appreciated. Peace brother.

Don

[teryang]

7. Seizing the territory and resources of others by force

...now equals "civilization versus chaos."

<"No free nation can be neutral in the fight between civilization and chaos," he said, but his appeal suffered a setback when India ruled out sending troops because of unrest in the province of Kashmir.

As he headed to a UN meeting in Geneva, Secretary of State Powell rejected the power sharing in Iraq demanded by UN allies as a condition for their help.>

[saigon68]

9. AND THIS

They never saw a 19-year-old from Iowa screaming and writhing on the ground because a mine
blew his legs off. They never saw a man take a bullet through the brain, then watch his body flop
around on the ground for a minute or so because it doesn't realize he's dead. They never put
pieces of someone into a bag, not knowing who it was until you read the tags, because there
wasn't any face left to go along with the other parts. They haven't seen the shit I've seen, and they
want to do it all over again. Those bastards!

As told to Al Hambridge by an anonymous man at the Viet-Nam Memorial-- Mar 2003

[stlsaxman]

10. So if iraqbodycount.net lists a minimum of 6154 Iraqi civilians dead...

to almost 300 American dead- let's do the math... 20 to 1 in our "favor".
Hmmm, some pro-war chickenhawks may say thems pretty good numbers...
yeah- pretty alright- pretty HORRENDOUS AND DISPICABLE...

pardon the screaming but we aren't being heard and it thereputic to scream
now and then.