Iraq Coalition Casualties

http://www.expediterworld.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10005/normal_iraq-military-memorial.jpg

There have been 1,715 confirmed coalition deaths
in the Iraq war as of April 4, 2005:
1,538 Americans (55 suicides)
177 Other Coalition Troops.
11,568 Americans have been wounded in the war.

Iraq Coalition Casualties:
http://icasualties.org/oif/

[Jimbo]

McBride, I got a lump in my throat as the bus I was on passed through the gate at Quantico, VA. I was about to become one of the worlds most feared warriors. Right at the gate's entrance, a statue reminded me of the history I was becoming part of. A group of Marines, not much older than I was then, were erecting a flag on a rocky hill. Those men had fought and died for control of a small island, and in the process brought World War 2 one step closer to it's end. People who see that statue might know what it shows, but not many I know have the slightest idea what it cost in American Lives to bring that flag to the top of that hill.

http://www.truckertech.com/sitebuilder/images/marines-150x153.png


The Marines landed on Iwo Jima, February 19, 1945. The U.S. Military directed 800 ships and 220,000 men into the effort. B-24s struck the island for 74 consecutive days before the Marines attacked. Iwo was only five miles long. At the southern end was the extinct 550-foot volcano, Mount Suribachi. The operation was scheduled to last 14 days. It actually lasted more than a month. The result was 5,931 Marines killed and 17,372 wounded---one Marine casualty for each Japanese on the island.

Just so you understand me, every single warrior who dies defending America is important to me. Not one single one dies without part of me dying with them. One thousand fallen warriors is no more important to me than one fallen warrior. One fallen brother of mine is no less important than 1,000. My brothers in arms are paying a high price over in Iraq, but the price is very small compared to the cost that the warriors of my Grandfather's days paid. What is 1,000 or even 2,000 dead in a war over 2 years old, when compared to 5,000 dead in less than 2 months?

When America goes to war, her defenders are going to face death, plain and simple. The cost may be great, but the cost of not fighting this war would have been greater. The world should thank GOD for America and her proud fighters. Without such brave fighting men and women, the world would truly be Hell on Earth.

Jim

[Hillbilly]

McBride, McBride, McBride, Freedom 101
1. Freedom is a possesion worth fighting for, at ANY cost!
2. Casualties in this conflict, while terrible, are miniscule in comparison to other conflicts that we have fought.
3. The people that are over there, almost to a man(and woman), know why they are there, and support it whole-heartedly. They might not like being there(no one in their right mind would), but they understand and support the necessity of the fight.
4. Finally, yes,you have the right to your opinion. That's what freedom is, and what I and others served to protect. BUT, once the decision is made, there is NO excuse for not supporting the troops that are in harm's way, to protect the way of life, that YOU enjoy. Disenting opinions are freedom at work, stabbing the troops in the back while they are in harm's way, is treason.

Hillbilly-

I have never once stated that I did not support our troops-this may be a hard concept for you to understand...just because people oppose[d] the war does NOT mean they don't support the brave men and women that are there! The same old stero-type rears it's ugly head once again-liberals/democrates are unpatriotic...I am personally sick to death of hearing such nonsense-How these two positions are equated is beyond me-

,... once the decision is made, there is NO excuse for not supporting the troops that are in harm's way, to protect the way of life, that YOU enjoy

[Hillbilly]

Ok, I'll try to explain this so that even a liberal can understand it.

A. Everyone is entitled to their own views on any given matter, and should make those views known.
B. All views should be taken into account, when making decisions that concern them or will be funded by them.
Where the big rub happens, is that once the decision is made, the time for dissenting views is OVER, and its time, to quote a great ling, to GET ER DONE. Any public display of dissent, after the fact, benefits our enemies, and HAPPERS our troops, which equates into increased casualties. If it is a subject that has no military involvment, then its no problem, but if troops are in hams way, get on the wagon or just be quiet, and quit enabling our enemies!
You may not like the situation, but its the way the world works. And the problem that you have inherited, by being on the liberal side, is that ALL of your predicessors, that taught todays liberals how to act suffered from the ssme malady that alot of children do, they don't know when to shut up. And you can expect no other reaction from us than discust, and anger, after the effect liberals had on us(the troops) when we were in harms way in the 60's and early 70's. How many friends of yours, would I have to cause the death of, before you got downright mad at me?????? Well, that is what liberalism is against now.

[Big_Dave]

I normally do NOT get involved in conversations that involve politics, religion or abortion. I have my own views on each subject, and that's the way it's gonna stay.

As far as the U.S. Military, I will support them in any way I can! I've marched in those boots, low crawled through the same shit, defended our freedom against enemies (foreign & domestic). I've spent many days and nights on the German / Czech border and guarded the Fulda Gap. My life expectancy when on the border (if war had broken out), was 10-30 minutes.

I KNOW where they stand! They make damn sure that you and I (or anyone else), can sit here and argue, debate, whatever....... :cool:

I may or may not like the policies of our leaders (sic), but I will (and do) back our Troops 100%! :cool:

I ask that all of you do the same! :)

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

[Hillbilly]

That is exactly my point, Dave, Agree or not( once the decision is made, and backed by Congress, and the troops comitted, the debate is over. Now, once the troops are back, and dissent no longer aids the enemy, if you have proper grounds, you can call those decisions into question. If no proper grounds, then you have the nest election, to voice your displeasure with the decision makers.