Are American Soldiers dying in vain?

'Only following orders' is not a valid justification for murdering people. Many people support the military for bravely fighting for the fall of fascism in the '30s and '40s, but a war in Iraq, urged on by a government of fruitcakes? That's a different story altogether.

No!

Most of the brave young men and women signed up to help their country. That is valiant.

The individual American Soldier is not dying in vain because they are doing a job. They are working within a system. The system they are working within is rotten. That is not the soldier's fault.

Most of them, from what I can see, are more than ready to come home to their families. Most of the generals and experts think it is time to come home also.

The media is to blame for a warped public perception of the need for this war...or rather occupation of Iraq.

People like Hillary Clinton seem to me to be adding fuel to the fire by their votes to continue funding.

This occupation is about oil revenues...and power. There are no weapons of mass destruction.

My little brother is fighting for a all the right reasons in his heart yearning for TRUE FREEDOM...But we all are starting to see that the government has no feelings for it's people...they have been instigateing wars....Starting w/ WWI, then WWII, Vietnam, & now this war we are in...I may only be 20 but I do know for a fact that this war is all based on MONEY!!! THE SYSTEM OF CONTROL....If only the founding fathers of this country realized that we have no need for it, truely. WHAT HAPPENED TO EARNIG WHAT U NEED/KEEP...Not paying 4 it....EARNING w/ SKILL...This world I have been brought in2 is so depressing that I sometimes wonder why I even wake up or breath...I don't matter...I'm just another "activist" in there eyes....Yet I've never been to a rally...Nor do I believe VIOLENCE is necessary...It's UNDERSTANDING we all seek....But I'm just a kid to most....so what would I know...I've only been the PRODUCT OF THE SYSTEM all my life....If I had the FREE CHOICE I would live in PURE TRUTH....TRUE PEACE....& TOTAL LOVE/UNDERSTANDING(agreeing 2 disagree).....***I'M STARTING 2 FEEL THAT THE ONLY TRUE FREE IS WHEN WE DIE*** & that's not good...I've barely walked in the door of this world...& I already wanna leave...(don't worry it's not my life 2 take...just speaking what I FEEL)

Angelique:
You made me cry to hear your pain.
Did I understand correctly that your little brother is in Iraq? Don't despair We are almost there ...we are almost through with this rotten Bush administration...The next President can't continue this! You maybe need to focus on getting the vote out to stop candidates who continue this insanity.. it may help keep you in a better mindset if you can do that you will feel like you are doing something to help...if you can. I marched in several of the Kennebunkport Rallies against the Iraq Occupation. It felt good to walk side by side with other people like you who are sick of the corrupt system...most of them were beautiful regular people like you who are sick of this. The news makes it seem like you are the one who is wrong..it is so hard to tolerate. I try not to watch it much...just Keith Olberman...and BBC...and now Current TV is good..
Hang in there ..you need to take care of yourself to keep above the depression...physically and mentally...it will pass though...most people go through depression...it hurts I know ..yours is for a valid reason. Take walks if you can...take Omega 3 and Vitamins and eat well...sorry it's the mother in me ...I have a daughter and a son around your age

96thdayofrage... I only want to mention one quick thing - we've actually been getting regular raises. :) I know that's an insignificant thing to mention here, but as of 01JANUARY, we just got another one. And thank you for thinking servicemembers never die in vain; I agree with that statement whole-heartedly.

Well, I want to thank you for aiming for 5% for us (that would be awesome if it ever went through). :) And while we disagree on some points, I love the way you write... you make me smile.

tell you what, they know this war is wrong, it is wrong, and if they are confusing conscience with commitment or honor. and if they know its wrong, and they still do it, then they deserve what they get!

if they believe in what they are doing, (murdering for nothing) then they derseve what they get!

if they (and we see it on youtube submitted by them everysingle day) think shooting at cars or kids or innocent people is the coolest thing, yet we are supposed to feel bad or sorry for these idiots when they get their asses blown off? they can kiss my ass! I hope they all get shot up...not killed, because that would be wrong, but i hope all those morons lose a leg or an eye...or half their head but still survive, so that it will remind them of what idiots they were for not only going along with this retard lie of a war, but for all the evils they go along with, or not stand up for. the biggest evil is not the act, but the act allowed to happen!

screw the troops! send them to something meaningful..like darfur! hell id sign up for that. help the palestinians...they are getting mass murdered..where is the justice in that?

Military Losses, 1980 thru 2007
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf)

As tragic as the loss of any member of the US Armed Forces is, consider the following statistics:

The annual fatalities of military members while actively serving in the armed forces from 1980 through 2006:

1980 ......... 2,392 (Carter Year)

1981 .......... 2,380 (Reagan Year)
1984 .......... 1,999 (Reagan Year
1988 .......... 1,819 (Reagan Year)

1989 .......... 1,636 (George H W Year)
1990 .......... 1,508 (George H W Year)
1991 .......... 1,787 (George H W Year)
1992 .......... 1,293 (George H W Year)

1993 .......... 1,213 (Clinton Year)
1994 .......... 1,075 (Clinton Year)
1995 .......... 2,465 (Clinton Year)
1996 .......... 2,318 (Clinton Year)
1997 ............. 817 (Clinton Year)
1998 .......... 2,252 (Clinton Year)
1999 .......... 1,984 (Clinton Year)
2000 .......... 1,983 (Clinton Year)

Clinton years (1993-2000): 14,000 deaths

2001 ............. 890 (George W Year)
2002 .......... 1,007 (George W Year)
2003 .......... 1,410 (George W Year)
2004 .......... 1,887 (George W Year)
2005 ............. 919 (George W Year)
2006.............. 920 (George W Year)
2007.............. 899 (George W Year)

George W years (2001-2006): 7,932 deaths

These figures mean that the loss from the two latest conflicts in the Middle East are LESS than the loss of military personnel during Bill Clinton's presidency; when America wasn't even involved in a war!

Race in general population:
European descent (White) ............... 69.12%
Hispanic ............................................ 12.5%
Black ................................................. 12.3%
Asian ................................................... 3.7%
Native American .................................. 1.0%
Other .................................................. 2.6%

Now... here are the fatalities by Race; over the past three years in Iraqi Freedom:
European descent (white) ................ 74.31%
Hispanic ........................................... 10.74%
Black ................................................ 9.67%
Asian ................................................. 1.81%
Native American ................................ 1.09%
Other ................................................ 0.33%

(These statistics are published by Congressional Research Service, and they may be confirmed by anyone at:

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf

Poor Angie done drank the Kool-Aid. Protesters (against the war) that I saw never spat on the veterans. It ain't the TROOPS that deserve to be spat on; its the neocons, the PNAC-ers, the generals who get in bed with the corporations that push these unwinnable genocides. Damn straight--those troops are dying for NOTHING good, only corporate greed.

And NEVER trust the government!

on the real