Posted by K12 on July 06, 2011 at 16:08:28:
In Reply to: Book about our war numbers posted by Jan on July 04, 2011 at 17:33:46:
Yeah, happy Independence Day. Bombs bursting in air. Ain't war grand.
All those dead. All those injured. And to what end? (That's a real question. Really, to what end?)
War used to be more worthwhile in "the old days." At least the 60,000 US soldiers and one million Vietnamese who died in the Vietnam war were worth it. In order to stop the relentless march of Communism toward world domination we managed to turn a democracy into a solidly Communist country. Well, at least we were able to support a ruthless Catholic despot for a while (until the people of the country got sick of it and threw us out).
: To "celebrate" today, the fourth of July, 2011, here are the numbers re our "current" wars:
: - US soldier deaths in Iraq = 4469 (official)
: - US soldier deaths in Afghanistan 1,140 (official)
: - US wounded in Iraq = 33082 (official) - estimated = over 100,000
: - US wounded in Afghanistan = 3420 (official) - estimated to be MUCH higher
: - Contractor Employee Deaths 3800 (official) Estimates of the actual number are much higher as there are now more contractors fighting in Iraq than US soldiers.
: - Civilian deaths = 111,000 (estimated)
: Costs:
: NY Times estimates over two trillion dollars has been spent on our current wars (so far). They estimate the two current wars will cost about four trillion long-term
: Other cost factors:
: Lost & Unaccounted for in Iraq - $9 billion of US taxpayers' money and $549.7 milion in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors. Also, per ABC News, 190,000 guns, including 110,000 AK-47 rifles.
: Lost and Reported Stolen - $6.6 billion of U.S. taxpayers' money earmarked for Iraq reconstruction, reported on June 14, 2011 by Special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction Stuart Bowen who called it "the largest theft of funds in national history." (Source - CBS News) Last known holder of the $6.6 billion lost: the U.S. government.
: Missing - $1 billion in tractor trailers, tank recovery vehicles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and other equipment and services provided to the Iraqi security forces. (Source - CBS News)
: P.S.
: Taliban attacks in Afghanistan are increasing: 1,571 attacks on US forces last month in Afghanistan.