Thursday, January 31, 2008
The War and Its Toll
After the Surge * Suicides
A year after the much debated troop surge took effect, sectarian violence in Iraq is down. American casualties, while still in double digits, show marked reduction. Good news for sure. That does not wipe out the basic wrongness of the war and the lies used by President Bush and members of his administration to bring it about.
Dana Priest's report in The Washington Post today details the high number of suicides among returning veterans.
Dana Priest's report in The Washington Post today details the high number of suicides among returning veterans.
- Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside, a psychiatric outpatient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center who was waiting for the Army to decide whether to court-martial her for endangering another soldier and turning a gun on herself last year in Iraq, attempted to kill herself Monday evening. In so doing, the 25-year-old Army reservist joined a record number of soldiers who have committed or tried to commit suicide after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The Dead of January
Joshua R. Anderson, 24, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 02, 2008
Ryan D. Maseth, 24, Army Staff Sergeant, Jan 02, 2008
Thomas J. Casey, 32, Army Captain, Jan 03, 2008
Andrew J. Olmsted, 37, Army Major, Jan 03, 2008
Menelek M. Brown, 24, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class, Jan 04, 2008
Jason F. Lemke, 30, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 05, 2008
James D. Gudridge, 20, Army Specialist, Jan 06, 2008
Timothy R. Hanson, 23, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 07, 2008
Todd E. Davis, 22, Army Specialist, Jan 09, 2008
Jonathan Kilian Dozier, 30, Army Staff Sergeant, Jan 09, 2008
Sean M. Gaul, 29, Army Staff Sergeant, Jan 09, 2008
David J. Hart, 22, Army Sergeant, Jan 09, 2008
Zachary W. McBride, 20, Army Sergeant, Jan 09, 2008
Ivan E. Merlo, 19, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 09, 2008
Phillip J. Pannier, 20, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 09, 2008
Matthew I. Pionk, 30, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Jan 09, 2008
Christopher A. Sanders, 22, Army Sergeant, Jan 09, 2008
Curtis A. Christensen Jr., 29, Marine Lance Corporal, Jan 11, 2008
Keith E. Lloyd, 26, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 12, 2008
Danny L. Kimme, 27, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 16, 2008
David H. Sharrett II, 27, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 16, 2008
John P. Sigsbee, 21, Army Specialist, Jan 16, 2008
Richard B. Burress, 25, Army Specialist, Jan 19, 2008
Jon M. Schoolcraft III, 26, Army Specialist, Jan 19, 2008
Justin R. Whiting, 27, Army Staff Sergeant, Jan 19, 2008
James M. Gluff, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Jan 19, 2008
Michael R. Sturdivant, 20, Army Sergeant, Jan 22, 2008
Tracy Renee Birkman, 41, Army Sergeant, Jan 25, 2008
Duncan Charles Crookston, 19, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 25, 2008
Robert J. Wilson, 28, Army Staff Sergeant, Jan 26, 2008
Mikeal W. Miller, 22, Army Sergeant, Jan 27, 2008
Alan G. Rogers, 40, Army Major, Jan 27, 2008
James E. Craig, 26, Army Sergeant, Jan 28, 2008
Gary W. Jeffries, 37, Army Staff Sergeant, Jan 28, 2008
Evan A. Marshall, 21, Army Specialist, Jan 28, 2008
Brandon A. Meyer, 20, Army Private 1st Class, Jan 28, 2008
Joshua A. R. Young, 21, Army Private, Jan 28, 2008
As of today, total number of soldiers who lost their lives in Bush's war: 3942
Source: icasualties.org
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