Breaking Political News

Wednesday, October 26, 2005, 11:44 AM

The U.S. military has broken the fabricated 2000 media milestone. Today’s AP headline “Accident Brings U.S. Toll in Iraq to 2001” continued embracing the Anti-War movements attempt to bring opposition to the war. Where did this number of 2000 come from? (Insert talking head here) By no means is this war any more devastating than our past wars.

Let’s face it. In the United States metropolitan we are a fast moving, instant-information society placated by 24-hour news with headline tickers. Sure we cannot expect all citizens to read every article, yet we still want people to be informed. However, this made-up milestone of 2000 is ridiculous and inaccurate. It should be said that as a human being and citizen of the U.S., I believe that we all value every single soldier that has served their country and especially those who have lost their lives. Yet, I have to say that the total U.S. casualties of this war are less than our previous wars. Sure we can argue the scale of each war to the number of deaths, but why didn’t we pull out after 2,000 in Vietnam or Korea?

World War I
In-Battle Deaths: 53,402
In-Service Deaths: 63,114
Total: 116,516

World War II
In-Battle Deaths: 291,557
In-Service Deaths: 113,842
Total: 405,399

Korean War I
In-Battle Deaths: 33,741
In-Service Deaths: 20,557
Total: 54,298

Vietnam War I
In-Battle Deaths: 47,410
In-Service Deaths: 10,789
Total: 58,199

Gulf War
In-Battle Deaths: 147
In-Service Deaths: 1947
Total: 2,094

Iraq War
In-Battle Deaths: 1562
In-Service Deaths: 439
Total: 2001

So I say, “What is the significance of 2000”? It is just another talking point to stir up controversy. At what point is freedom too expensive, in lives and money. Had we asked that question years ago, perhaps we would not be the country we are today. It will be said if one hundred years from now we look back and think this world could have been a better place had more countries stood up for good.

Sources:
Iraq Coalition Casualties
Accident Brings U.S. Toll in Iraq to 2001