Cal Perry, of CNN reports that 17,500 US Soldiers have been wounded in Iraq
'Life and death every day' for Iraq medics
In Iraq, roughly 17,500 U.S. troops have been wounded, and nearly 2,500 have been killed. The survival rate is significantly higher than in previous wars, and much credit goes to those working to save lives in places such as the 10th Combat Support Hospital.
"If you look at the overall death rate ... the case fatality rate is cut in half from Vietnam to now. And again I think that's due to better training, tactical combat casualty training," said Col. John Holcomb, the senior surgeon at the hospital.
I remember a long article a few month ago in USA about the higher ration of brain injuries in the Iraq War compared to the Vietnam War, and three theories were advanced.
One that improvements and wider use of body armor leaves helps more wounded survive, two, that improvements to medical care helps more survive, and three, that better detection methods were recognizing more brain injuries and their resulting cognitive and emotional impairments.
And Let's Not Forget The Iraqis
Over 1,000 Dead in One Month is NOT Freedom
And Progressive Libertarian reminds of the vastly greater casualty rate among Iraqi civilians and soldiers.
55. Over 1,000 Dead in One Month is NOT Freedom
(Diaries, All Topics)
Thomas Wagner reports "Nearly 1,100 were slain in Baghdad in April."
BAGHDAD, Iraq - President Jalal Talabani said today that nearly 1,100 people were killed in Baghdad alone last month and urged Iraq's feuding factions to unite against surging crime and terrorism.
Near Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Iraqi civilians to work, then planted a bomb aboard the vehicle that exploded when rescue workers arrived. In all, 11 Iraqis were killed and six wounded..
Casualties from a suicide truck bombing in the northern city of Tal Afar on Tuesday night rose to 22 dead and 134 wounded. The U.S. military flew some of the wounded to other cities when the local hospital was overwhelmed.
Talabani, a Kurd, said in a statement that the 1,091 bodies found in the Baghdad area in April were the tip of the iceberg.
"We feel shock, dismay and anger over the daily reports of the discovery of unidentified corpses and those of others killed" around the capital, he said.
"If we add this to the number of corpses that are not discovered, or to similar crimes in other provinces, then the total number ... reflects that we are confronting a situation no less dangerous that the results of terrorist acts" such as car bombings and other attacks.
The Dirty Secret of Ethnic Cleansing
Scores of unidentified bodies turn up around the capital on a daily basis, many bound, tortured and shot execution style in what officials say is an unwavering tide of reprisal sectarian killings.
At least 3,525 Iraqis have been killed in war-related violence this year. These numbers include civilians, government officials, and police and security officials, and are considered only a minimum based on Associated Press reporting.
Sunni Arabs, who form the minority in the country but were once the power brokers under Saddam Hussein, say they are being targeted by so-called Shiite death squads operating either from within the Shiite-led Interior Ministry, or with the ministry's tacit approval.
Shiites say thousands of their community have had to flee their homes to escape threats by Sunni extremists.
But many lawmakers say that the next interior minister will likely be a Shiite, and several have floated the name of the current minister, Bayan Jabr, a member of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
The factions within Iraq are trying to anticipate and influence the boundaries of a post-partition Iraq by attack minority population in various regions forcing populations to flee.
US forces are unable to stop this and Iraqi forces are unwilling. This leads to difficulty in forming a unity government as many of the nominated candidates are affiliated with the militias and paramilitary organizations driving the genocidal ethnic cleansing campaign.
We need a better solution to this tragic and under reported aspect of the War.
We must unsure that we give wounded soldiers adequate physical and mental health services for the rest of their lives. Any thing less would dishonor their service to America.