The unreported cost of war - at least 827 Americans injured

[Pert_UK]

"US military casualties from the occupation of Iraq have been more than twice the number most Americans have been led to believe because of an extraordinarily high number of accidents, suicides and other non-combat deaths in the ranks that have gone largely unreported in the media.

Since May 1, when President George Bush declared the end of major combat operations, 52 American soldiers have been killed by hostile fire, according to Pentagon figures quoted in almost all the war coverage. But the total number of US deaths from all causes is much higher: 112.

The other unreported cost of the war for the US is the number of American wounded, 827 since Operation Iraqi Freedom began.

Unofficial figures are in the thousands. About half have been injured since the president's triumphant appearance on board the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln at the beginning of May. Many of the wounded have lost limbs...

Military observers say it is unusual, even in a "low-intensity" guerrilla war such as the situation seen in Iraq, for non-combat deaths to outnumber combat casualties."

Full story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1011692,00.html

[TacticalPeek]

1. Kick

Maybe a national reporter will do a nice analysis.

Any US reporters left?

[Dirty Hippie]

2. I heard on NPR

that the military catagorizes deaths and injuries resulting from vehicle accidents as non-combat related, even when the accident is a result of enemy fire etc. I guess if the driver of a truck gets shot, wrecks, and soldiers who are in the truck die, their deaths are non-combat related.

I suppose Jessica Lynch's injuries, under this definition, are non-combat related. So what was that metal she received for????

[teryang]

3. Facts avoided by American media

...the number of wounded is a subject which has been avoided with uncanny consistency by the American media. It appears that the truth on this subject is just too ugly to discuss in public. So it's classified? When the veterans hospitalization and disability benefits start will that be classified as well?

Thanks for posting this much needed article.