Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Report on American War Dead in Iraq and Afghanistan
Except for a Blackhawk helicopter crash, which killed 14, the period August 4, 2007 to September 3, 2007, according to Department of Defense releases, was only a little more bloody than last month's list of dead for Afghanistan and Iraq. In total, 98 American servicemen died in those countries during this last period. Here is the breakdown.
In Afghanistan, 13 American servicemen died. One by small arms fire and four in the non-descript combat operations. Five were killed by IEDs and three were killed from non combat causes or incidents, which usually means suicide. We're sending hundreds of Taliban and other Jihadists to Paradise each month in that country as part of the dreaded Taliban Summer Offensive, no matter what Barack Obama says, so that appears to be going well nearly 6 years after we began to take the Taliban out. People who say there is a Taliban resurgence, or we've let things go in Afghanistan and are in danger of getting kicked out, are either delusional or extremely nervous types.
In Iraq, 85 servicemen died. IEDs were used to kill 33, and small arms, including any type of grenade, killed 9. Combat operations, usually in al Anbar province and almost exclusively Marines, accounted for 8 deaths. 20 died in accidents including the Blackhawk. One died of natural causes (I still think that shouldn't count), six were killed by non combat causes or incidents, six died from indirect fire and for two there was no information given other than they had died in Iraq.
I'm sorry to report that it looks like three, maybe four, women were among the dead-- Alicia Bichett, Princess Samuels and Zanda Walker, all in their 20s. The fourth possibility was Kanisha Black, but I can't find out the gender of that soldier. We lost two captains in the Blackhawk crash, another captain was a non combat caused casualty and a major went down in combat operations in Afghanistan.
It's difficult to see the pattern. There are more servicemen (and women) in Iraq now than in the past 4 years, and we're out hunting and killing the enemy every day, yet after a jump up in June and July (with 122 and 120 war dead) we're back to Spring numbers just at the beginning of the surge change in tactics. I look on it as good news that casualties seem to be heading down again, while each serious injury and death remains a private tragedy, especially since most of these men and women are so young.
In Afghanistan, 13 American servicemen died. One by small arms fire and four in the non-descript combat operations. Five were killed by IEDs and three were killed from non combat causes or incidents, which usually means suicide. We're sending hundreds of Taliban and other Jihadists to Paradise each month in that country as part of the dreaded Taliban Summer Offensive, no matter what Barack Obama says, so that appears to be going well nearly 6 years after we began to take the Taliban out. People who say there is a Taliban resurgence, or we've let things go in Afghanistan and are in danger of getting kicked out, are either delusional or extremely nervous types.
In Iraq, 85 servicemen died. IEDs were used to kill 33, and small arms, including any type of grenade, killed 9. Combat operations, usually in al Anbar province and almost exclusively Marines, accounted for 8 deaths. 20 died in accidents including the Blackhawk. One died of natural causes (I still think that shouldn't count), six were killed by non combat causes or incidents, six died from indirect fire and for two there was no information given other than they had died in Iraq.
I'm sorry to report that it looks like three, maybe four, women were among the dead-- Alicia Bichett, Princess Samuels and Zanda Walker, all in their 20s. The fourth possibility was Kanisha Black, but I can't find out the gender of that soldier. We lost two captains in the Blackhawk crash, another captain was a non combat caused casualty and a major went down in combat operations in Afghanistan.
It's difficult to see the pattern. There are more servicemen (and women) in Iraq now than in the past 4 years, and we're out hunting and killing the enemy every day, yet after a jump up in June and July (with 122 and 120 war dead) we're back to Spring numbers just at the beginning of the surge change in tactics. I look on it as good news that casualties seem to be heading down again, while each serious injury and death remains a private tragedy, especially since most of these men and women are so young.
Labels: Iraq; Afghanistan; American War Dead
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 1:29 PM 
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Rog,
Didn't the military get the memo? I thought we were sending Taliban and other Jihadists to hell.
I too have heard there is a Taliban resurgence although perhaps not in the form of a summer offensive. Is that wrong?
T
Didn't the military get the memo? I thought we were sending Taliban and other Jihadists to hell.
I too have heard there is a Taliban resurgence although perhaps not in the form of a summer offensive. Is that wrong?
T
# posted by 
: 12:26 PM
: 12:26 PM
Their paradise is our hell. After about 10 virgins, don't you just long for the abilities of a pro? (says Dennis Miller). Yes there is a Taliban resurgence; they are coming out and getting killed in large numbers, accomplishing next to nothing. Kind of an Appointment in Samarra thing.
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