8 US soldiers killed today. Is the public getting numb to this?

[Bake]

Is the US public getting "immune" to the daily reports of US troops killed in Iraq, or is the public going to turn against * because of the continued death toll there? What do you think?

Bake

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. No immunity

Eventually enough of us will know a casualty.

[Brian Sweat]

33. Not likely.

There have been barely 1 death for every million americans. In all probability less than .1% of Americans even remotely know someone who has died.

[Caution]

2. No, they dont know about it

When this is reported it is as a side note and only people who actually keep up with the news are aware of it. Ask around and most people have no clue that there are US soldiers dying and being wounded on a daily basis. All they hear about are the big ones (like the Mosque bombing).

(Question for Islamic DUers...should the word Mosque be capitalized?)

[Mairead]

22. "should the word Mosque be capitalized?"

The rule in English is that nouns are capitalized only when part of something's name. So in 'Blue Mosque' both words are capitalised because the building's name is 'Blue Mosque'. But 'the mosque two streets over' doesn't get capitalised because 'mosque' in that case only tells us its nature (it's a mosque), not its name.

However, sometimes one can capitalise and then claim to have elided the rest of the name. 'The construction of Istanbul's Blue Mosque was begun in 1609 CE. The Mosque {'Blue' being understood) is one of Istanbul's most famous landmarks today.'

Hope that helps.

[ewagner]

3. Did Military "confirm"?

Last I saw on CNN was "two injured".

[fizzana]

10. CNN was saying there were 2 attacks

2 injured in the first attack but they had no information in the second attack. If 8 soldiers were killed in the second attack I'm sure the military are frantically figuring out how to spin this which might be a reason for the silence.

[Imajika]

4. Do we know for certain...

...that 8 US soldiers were killed. I have read all sorts of differing reports. Some of them seem to be quoting an Arab news source which are not always credible. Infact, some are downright dubious at best.

"Is the US public getting 'immune' to the daily reports of US troops killed in Iraq, or is the public going to turn against * because of the continued death toll there?"

I think Bush's support is down to it's base level. He's around 50%, which is right about where he was before 9-11. It will take quite a bit of bad news to drop him much lower than that.

Saying that, if the American death toll rises dramatically, Bush could drop lower in the polls - though I am not sure how much.

Imajika

[chiburb]

8. If and when the #8 is confirmed...

I suspect it will be a number that makes front pages across the country.
Yes, it seems that 1 here or 2 there often are pushed to page 5 or 6 or mentioned in the 4th paragraph. 8 is too large to ignore.
Is the public getting immune? I think that many are, but an equal number are feeling guilty for:
A. Supporting the Fraud in Chief.
B. Failing to do anything real to support the troops.
C. Only questioning the invasion when asked to pay a huge tab.
D. Not knowing what to do next.
At our house we still cry at the end of PBS' Newshour when they silently show the pictures of the newly dead. No numbness or immunity here, just a greater sense of urgency to do whatever possible to bring them home.

[Raenelle]

35. The best way to assuage their guilt is to blame those who lied to them

War supporters will either continue to defend the war (the real "dead-enders"), begin to realize their judgment was faulty (contrary to the nature of all but the most mature of folks), or blame their initial support on being misled.

I just don't see how Bush holds onto the independents and the squishy right now. If he holds elections, declares Iraq free, and withdraws prematurely, the neo-cons and fundies will turn on him. Moreover, I have never, ever see Bush do anything that would alienate the base. If he stays, all those people who are getting queasy and fighting back more and more questions--they'll desert Bush if the Dems can offer an alternative who seems sane and strong to them.

[Minstrel Boy]

11. From the right-wing London Telegraph, "at least eight":

At least eight American soldiers have been killed in a bomb and grenade attack on a military convoy west of Baghdad, according to reports.

Witnesses said up to 10 burned bodies were carried from a US transport vehicle after it drove over a bomb in the town of Khaldiya, about 50 miles west of Baghdad.

They said the convoy tried to continue after the first explosion but was hit by rocket-propelled grenades shortly afterwards.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/09/18/ukhal.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/09/18/ixportaltop.html

If the US press is waiting for Centcom's side before reporting this, most Americans may never hear of it.

[gristy]

5. Looks like 8 killed

8 US soldiers killed in Iraq attack
Associated Press
Khalidiyah, Iraq, September 18

At least eight American soldiers were killed and one wounded after an attack on the main road of the central Iraqi town of Khalidiyah on Thursday, media reports said.

The troops were first hit by a remote-controlled roadside bomb, and then came under heavy gunfire that destroyed at least two trucks.

Five US tanks, two Bradley fighting vehicles and 40 troops surrounded a neighbourhood from which gunmen opened fire after the bomb exploded. Helicopters hovered above.

Soldiers were firing at no obvious targets, in an apparent effort to protect themselves until reinforcements arrived, a witness said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_381503,001300180038.htm

And no, the public is NOT getting numb to this. Eight killed in one day in one incident is going to have a significant impact on this country in the next 24 hours.

[ScrewyRabbit]

6. I think they certainly notice milestones

Such as when the deaths from the occupation surpassed the deaths from the invasion, or the car bomb attacks on the UN and the cleric.

If it's true that 8 were actually killed, this one is significant because it's a high number. The Iraqis are refining their tactics. We can expect them to keep striving for ever higher numbers -- 25 in one blow; then 50; then 100; then 200...

[mistertrickster]

7. Okay, folks, today is the day the death toll for American troops

broke 300. Official count WAS 294 plus eight more = 302.

Very sad, brave men and women dying for a puny coward in Washington.

[soupkitchen]

9. Well Ann Coutler calls GIs being killed getting their hair messed a bit

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

15. Rummy refers to it as "nose bleeds"

[lindashaw]

12. Not if the television would show the picture of the humvee...

Just hearing a statistic does benumb the mind. We need photos of those C-17s bringing in the wounded and body bags like Vietnam. Sad, but true.

[chiburb]

23. Like this from BBC?

Also, THE definitive source is still saying unconfirmed:

http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

13. There is no way the US govt. will admit to 8 deaths

Not with the world and US public against them.

Eight soldiers may have been killed, but the Bushies will commit hari kari before admitting to it. OP SEC extraordinaire is taking place right now. The Bushies doing what they do best....covering their asses but good.

[gristy]

16. There's too much press in Bagdad

The military won't be able to suppress it. It'll be the 2nd story on CBS tonight (after that damn windy rainstorm in NC).

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

17. And CBS admitted to 8 deaths?

I'm not seeing a confirmation in my neck of the woods...nothing close to that but a lot of bombed out burning military vehicles. Common sense says somebody died, but the media isn't sayin'.

[gristy]

18. My prediction is that CBS will have the story tonight.

With a report on the number of deaths.

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

20. I don't get the big deal about this hurricane

I used to live in an equatorial climate, in Asia, where lots of typhoons occurred. I experienced one super typhoon with 150 mph winds, and it didn't get near the media hype as Class Three Isabel.

I guess it's just a useful excuse to keep Bush's latest foibles off the front page.

[Skittles]

26. um

hurricanes have the potention for horrific damage and deaths. It is legitimate news.

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

28. Yeah, one guy died in RI. It's horrible, really bad. Awful.

Now give us the scoop on those 8 military deaths in Iraq, Skittles. That's where the real news should be, not on a bunch of idiots who built their houses at the river's edge.

[Skittles]

39. DEAR GOD

Did I SAY the SOLDIERS SHOULDN'T BE NEWS??

[efhmc]

14. "nose bloodied"

Where is the real count and why was the report on 8 deaths removed from the board?

[papau]

19. Looks like 2 killed - the #8 came from Arab sources

Reuters is reporting 2 confirmed killed only.

[Skittles]

21. that's right, papau

have you noticed very RARELY are more than one or two killed a DAY - I'm suspecting this misadministration is ensuring the deaths in Iraq are "metered out" to the American public who seem to be able to stand their soldier deaths in small doses. :puke:

[chiburb]

24. They may be changing tactics...

French news agency AFP quoted witnesses as saying several soldiers in the vehicle were burnt.

As soldiers tried to evacuate the wounded, they were reportedly attacked with grenades.

"A bomb exploded underneath a troop transport. It caught fire. The remainder of the convoy tried to continue and was hit by rocket-propelled grenades 500 metres <1600 ft> away," Khaldiyah resident Mahmud Ali told the agency.

US forces sealed off the road and called in reinforcements, another witness said.

The BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones, who is in Baghdad, says it was quite a significant attack and more sophisticated than previous assaults because it involved a secondary attack on the Americans.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3119778.stm

[Raenelle]

36. I read in one of the blogs that there was significant Iraqi cheering

over the bombing of the car. It's worse than just 8 people killed.

[markses]

25. Link? I haven't seen a confirmation

n/t

[sattahipdeep]

27. No confirmation but

An AP driver said a three-year-old Iraqi boy
had been shot in the chest.

The AP reporter was fired on by one of the tanks with three
rounds from its 50-calibre machine gun.

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7310485%255E1702,00.html

[Sticky]

30. Still more reports

Sounds like a nightmare for those involved in this attack!

http://www.albawaba.com/news/index.php3?sid=258976&lang=e&dir=news

http://english.aljazeera.net/Articles/News/ArabWorld/US+troops+kill+teeanger+in+Fallujah.htm

[smallprint]

29. i don't think the US media is going to report 8 deaths

whether or not that is the accurate number, the corporate media will not report it. period.

expect them to admit to MAYBE 2 deaths tonight, and then expect a string of "accidents" over the next few days to bump the numbers up.

[Langis]

34. On NPR they reported 8 deaths

about 2 hours ago

[Mari333]

31. Numb?? I doubt the Public even knows about it

they arent showing the caskets at Dover AF base, they arent interviewing the families of the dead, they arent showing the dead and wounded soldiers on TV..

Its another whoremedia blackout.

[sattahipdeep]

32. CNN An AP driver said a three-year-old Iraqi boy who had been shot

in the chest. :cry:

The AP reporter was fired on by one of the tanks with
three rounds from its 50-caliber machine gun.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/18/sprj.irq.iraq.ambush.ap/

[Brian Sweat]

37. Talk about propoganda. Read this line.

"Al-Arabiya television reported eight Americans were killed and one wounded. There was no confirmation of any casualties, and initial casualty reports have proven incorrect in the past."

[sattahipdeep]

38. Do you think

Will we ever know the name of the AP driver?