4,000 troop deaths. A continuing tragedy
24 03 2008Overnight, the number of American military casualties reached 4,000.
Now in it’s sixth year, it the cost of this war is quite clear for all to see. If the monetary price wasn’t enough, if the price of loosing our credibility wasn’t enough, if the mental and emotional anguish wasn’t enough, surely, the death of 4,000 American men and women in uniforms is.
The President claims that the costs are not as high as some claim. Here Mr. President, 4,000 coffins. Shouldn’t one be enough?
Senator McCain claims that we are succeeding and progress is begin made. Perhaps he will reconsider as coffins draped in American flags return home.
We are at a turning point in American history, and a clear choice in before us. Do we continue to roll back the progress that is American democracy, where tyrants conquered foreign lands for financial gain, despite the costs of war? Do we travel back to the days of occupying forces, foreign based governments, and a constant clash with the people? Do we set our military bases permanently, as a sign of superiority and control? Do we punish local fighters, violently protesting for independence?
No.
Let us move forward once again as an America of hope and a sign of freedom. No longer shall nations be governed by foreign invaders. Let us move past this blemish in history where 4,000 American troops have perished, where tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives have been lost.
Rather than spending more than $505 billion to kill people in the Middle East, lets invest that money into the American education system. Rather than providing a surplus package to battle the recession, let each household keep the $4,681 that the war has cost them so far. The money in Iraq could provide each and every senior citizen in American with nearly $14,500 to spend on medication, housing, food, or any other need.
In November, the election will be on much more than the surface. If for one moment, in the voting booth, we put aside the failing economy, our troubled schools, a broken health care system, the Social Security mess, the rising cost of college tuition, food, gasoline, and living, the out of control spending, and most other issues, and just focus on the loss of 4,000 lives by this Republican Administration, than our choice should be crystal clear.
The decision is between a policy that will continue our problems and a policy that will begin to reduce our problems.
No matter what Democrat is elected, we will be in a better place on January 20, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. than we will be on January 20, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.
I’m a Soldier in the U.S. Army and when I heard news of the 4000 death mark I became sick to my stomach. I’m lucky enough to have been to Iraq and return home to my family but so many of my fellow Soldiers have not been as fortunate. And in my heart i feel like every one of those 4000 deaths our president is to be blamed for.
I’ve opened up a discussion on my blog so I can talk to people and answer their questions and hopefully make people understand that not all military are supporting this war and that every one of those deaths was important and unneeded. I’d like it you’d stop by and toss in your two cents.
I’m all for defending my country but U.S. did not need to be defended from Iraq.
I wholeheartedly agree that the money from the war should have gone into education instead. Why not teach diplomacy in the classroom, rather than ignorance and hate by way of action?
I feel that 4,000 shouldn’t be the start of people being upset. The upset should have started with 1.
Bush nearly doubled the amount of American deaths bin Laden did