Sunday, December 31, 2006

Another "Grim Milestone" alert

Just once, I would like to see the media report a significant amount in the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq without using the now hackneyed and cliched term "grim milestone".

Unfortunately, no matter what term is used, the fact remains that we have now lost 3,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. If you add our dead from Afghanistan, we passed the "grim milestone" of 3,000 quite a long time ago. So far, we have lost 353 American troops dead in Afghanistan, for a total of about 3,355 lost so far in the war against Islamic fascism. To keep abreast of our casualties, go here.

Notice I use the term "Islamic fascism", not "Terror". You don't fight a war against terror, anymore than we fought a war against sneak attacks after Pearl Harbor.

And let us not forget our wounded. Dying in a war is awful, but losing a limb, or your eyesight, or your hearing, or your ability to procreate, or your ability to walk is also devastating. So far, the number of U.S. wounded in Iraq is 22,565. Add the toll in Afghanistan of 1,084, and you get a grand total of 23,650 Purple Hearts. God Bless them all, and here's hoping that in 2007, we can find an effective and honorable way out of this mess in which we find ourselves.

Good Day to You, Sir

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