Tuesday, September 22, 2009

 

Report on the American War Dead in Afghanistan and Iraq

This is a little late, sorry.

According to Department of Defense releases for the month of August: Despite an upturn in the number of terrorist bombings of Iraqi civilians and police, serious fighting, and other military things we are involved in, continue to wind down in Iraq, two months after our withdrawal from Iraqi cities. We had just one fewer war deaths than last month (in which we had 8 war dead), and only suffered 7 deaths there (of which only 4 were from combat, if that's the right word for IED and rocket attacks). In Afghanistan, it looks like we're fighting a real war, as there were more battle deaths and again, well over twice the battle deaths this month as in June.

Here is further breakdown. In Iraq, three were killed by IEDs, one died from a rocket attack; and three died from non combat causes.

In Afghanistan, 28 died from IEDs (twice as many as in July), two from non-combat causes, five died from small arms, fifteen in combat operations, and two were killed in accidents. One died from indirect fire. The total in Afghanistan was 53, about ten more than the number from last month, and all but four were combat related. The total during August for the wars being waged against us is 60, approaching two a day.

One woman warrior was killed, Tara Smith, 33, of Nashville, NC from a non combat cause in Afghanistan. It was yet another deadly month for officers, particularly Captains. These dead were: Captain Ronald Luce, Jr., 27, of Fayetteville, NC, from an IED in Afghanistan, 2nd Lt. Joseph Fortin, 22, of St. Johnsburg, VT, dead from an IED in Iraq; Capt. Matthew Freeman, 29, of Richmond Hills, GA, killed by combat operations in Afghanistan; Capt. John Tinsley, 28, of Tallahassee, FL, dead from an IED in Afghanistan; Capt. John Hallett, III, 30 from California and Capt. Cory Jenkins, 30, from Arizona, killed by the same IED in Afghanistan.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the families and loved ones of these fallen warriors, and all our hopes for their continued success goes to our men and women, mainly men, fighting overseas.

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Comments:
What is really interesting (and sad) is that Afghanistan casualties are approaching that 2/day number that characterized casualties in Iraq for years on end... and with half as many troops on the ground.

I haven't seen any posts lately on how much ass we are kicking there. I miss those.
 
They got repetitive. I am worried that President Obama will wimp out and snatch defeat from victory. Afghanistan is tough for nation building. I think the tactic and strategy change should be towards teams who go out probe, pin and kill the Taliban et al. But no one listens to me.
 
How long should "victory" take anyway?
 
Long freakin' time, more's the pity.
 
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