Number of Wounded in Action on Rise. A must read.

[Robin Hood]

Number of Wounded in Action on Rise
Iraq Toll Reflects Medical Advances, Resistance Troops Face
By Vernon Loeb
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 2, 2003; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12096-2003Sep1.html

U.S. battlefield casualties in Iraq are increasing dramatically in the face of continued attacks by remnants of Saddam Hussein's military and other forces, with almost 10 American troops a day now being officially declared "wounded in action."



The number of those wounded in action, which totals 1,124 since the war began in March, has grown so large, and attacks have become so commonplace, that U.S. Central Command usually issues news releases listing injuries only when the attacks kill one or more troops. The result is that many injuries go unreported.

The rising number and quickening pace of soldiers being wounded on the battlefield have been overshadowed by the number of troops killed since President Bush declared an end to major combat operations May 1. But alongside those Americans killed in action, an even greater toll of battlefield wounded continues unabated, with an increasing number being injured through small-arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, remote-controlled mines and what the Pentagon refers to as "improvised explosive devices."

Indeed, the number of troops wounded in action in Iraq is now more than twice that of the Persian Gulf War in 1991. The total increased more than 35 percent in August -- with an average of almost 10 troops a day injured last month.

Fifty-five Americans were wounded in action last week alone, pushing the number of troops wounded in action since May 1 beyond the number wounded during peak fighting. From March 19 to April 30, 550 U.S. troops were wounded in action in Iraq. Since May 1, the number totals 574. The number of troops killed in Iraq since the beginning of May already has surpassed the total killed during the height of the war.

<snip>

With no fanfare and almost no public notice, giant C-17 transport jets arrive virtually every night at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, on medical evacuation missions. Since the war began, more than 6,000 service members have been flown back to the United States. The number includes the 1,124 wounded in action, 301 who received non-hostile injuries in vehicle accidents and other mishaps, and thousands who became physically or mentally ill.



Is this what Anne Coulter is reffering to when she said that "The soldiers are getting their hair mussed in iraq"?

[dArKeR]

1. Where is Democracy's watch dog, the American Media asking for these

details? I just can't believe some American hero, like Larry Flint, doesn't sue the 'media' for racketeering!

[Robin Hood]

3. Where is Democracy's watch dog?

It died right after it's owner(Democracy)died

[ClintonTyree]

2. I guess so..............

I really wish Annthrax would volunteer to get her "hair mussed" over there. Her shrewish tone would change immediately. We liberals "hate" our armed forces enough to wish them extracted from that Bush made hell hole. Repugs don't give a crap if some poor boys and girls are getting permanently maimed or killed, after all, we have to keep the economy "recovering".

[Robin Hood]

4. Right now, more than ever,

We need to be out in force, demanding that our people be brought home and Iraq returned to the Iraqi people. Damn it!! I feel so powerless, and if I feel this powerless, I can't imagine what the troops feel like. Abandoned i suppose.

[CWebster]

7. International ANSWER

was the one group willing to put the herculean organizing effort into getting these protests in gear...Unfortunately they have been sabotaged by unwarranted charges(spearheaded by the so-called progressive Jewish-American Left) of anti-semitism for openly protesting the worsening reality in the I\P conflict.

Should you or any of your minions read this, Michael Lerner---you disgust me.

[eablair3]

18. i've heard

i've heard the right-wing smear ANSWER as well. They call them "commies" and "socialists".

[TheReligiousLeft]

10. They feel like armies of one

but not in the way the commercials intended! Our response must be to become revolutions of one!

[calimary]

26. Exactly, because if they're dead, they can't vote against you.

If they'd survived, they'd have seen the light by the time they got to the polls.

on edit - corrected idiot typo

[cthrumatrix]

5. I believe last week / week before there was a press conference in

Iraq where a US military guy said there was something like 20-25 "incidences" a day ...meaning attacks or attempts.... I couldn't believe the number.

[Judi Lynn]

6. I hope a lot of DU'ers see this article

I've seen quite a few posts from people wondering how many Americans have been injured in Iraq.

Couldn't help noting the last line, also, concerning returning soldiers who became physically or mentally ill. Very, very sad.

[Athame]

8. thousands who became physically or mentally ill

Thousands!!! I expect you have to be very sick to be flown back to Andrews AFB. We are not hearing about these illnesses at all (except on DU).

keep it :kick:

[catmandu57]

9. Just like after the last quagmire, PTSD

is going to claim most of our troops, all of them to one degree or the other. I don't believe we'll be treating these vets any better, probably worse.

[saigon68]

11. BRING IT ON

--- G. W. BUSH

he feels your pain.

[RedEarth]

12. Tragic....

The main-stream media should be blasted on not reporting these numbers. The public needs to know what is actually going on in Iraq and not just hear the b... admin spin.

BTW....what was Ann C. implying when she said... "The soldiers are getting their hair mussed in iraq"? If she was saying our troops aren't in that much danger, she ought to have her ass sent over there.

[janx]

13. Question: If a soldier is wounded in action, but

then later dies, do we ever hear about it? Or do we only hear about those soldiers who are killed immediately?

I realize it's a sick question, but I've been curious about this for a long time.

[qb]

14. This is actually good news!!! (According to the Pentagon)

They say the number of wounded reflects medical advances, and is just peachy since they're not dead.

[duhneece]

15. My late husband lost both legs in Viet Nam

But he always said that he was the lucky one because his wounds showed, they were obvious. He would then remark on how much worse it was for those emotionally, mentally wounded whose wounds didn't show.
And yet now there is seems to be no awareness of the life time pain (physical, mental and emotional) these young people (and their families) will live with.

[Robin Hood]

16. Sigh,

How incredibly sad. I am sorry for the loss of your husband. he sounded like a good man. It is sad how this nation glorified the troops and promised to support them, and now they are virtually abandoned and frgotten about.

Like I said, now more than ever, we need to be out in force. In the streets and in their face. Bring our people home!

[newyawker99]

17. Hi duhneece!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[calimary]

27. Welcome to DU, duhneece. I am so sorry about your husband.

What he must have gone through!!!! What YOU must have gone through, sharing his suffering!!!

And how many more moms and young wives will duplicate your experience because of this Complete and Completely Certified SCHMUCK???????

[slack]

19. And don't forget Afghanistan

In the Asia Times was a long article and interview about "The face of Afghanistan's resistance". Very interessting to read.

ATol: Why have the Taliban failed to kill many US soldiers in Afghanistan?

Azmatullah: They hide the facts. Every day, there are US casualties in Afghanistan.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/EH26Ag01.html

[leftchick]

20. I tried telling my freeper Mother in law this

Thank you for this LG... I tried to tell my MIL about this a few weeks ago. She refused to believe that so many were being killed and wounded. Of course her news source is faux so I am not surprised....

[bvar22]

21. The goal of a resistance fighter or guerrilla fighter...

...is to wound, maim, and disable members of the occupying force. Caring for wounded ties up more forces and resources. They are also more difficult to hide, although bush*/republicans have been doing a wonderful job hiding the maimed US soldiers returning from the ME.

Those who do not learn from history.....

[panzerfaust]

22. Very true, but only part of the grim truth

The Grim Truth being that probably one third of the casualties of the war are children.

Not soldiers, not even adults. Long after we are gone from Iraq, our mines (and the Iraqi mines) will continue to claim tiny victims: as is true today in Afghanistan, Viet Nam, Cambodia …

[0007]

23. absolutely apalling

“War is beyond all words horrible” (Winston S. Churchill)

[slack]

24. http://www.iraqometer.com/

1337 & kick

[calimary]

25. Why doesn't Ann Coulter go over there and get HER hair mussed?

Unlike our troops, SHE deserves it.