Deaths mounting, as is indifference -- Denver Post Editorial

[Kanary]

Finally, someone reporting it as it is......

Deaths mounting, as is indifference
By John Aloysius Farrell
Denver Post Washington Bureau Chief


Washington - We didn't hear about the lives of Spec. Justin Onwordi or Pfc. Harry Shondee Jr. at the Democratic convention.
And I doubt we'll hear much about their deaths when the Republicans gather in New York this month.

Onwordi, 28, a Nigerian immigrant, and Shondee, a 19-year-old Navajo, were on duty with the 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq when, early last week, they gave their lives for their country.

(snip)
Six dead in 24 hours. A few weeks back - before the "transfer of power" in Iraq - it might have been a front page headline. But The New York Times ran the news at the bottom of Page 8; The Washington Post on Page 15. Here at The Denver Post, we put the story on Page 16. The TV news networks mentioned the deaths parenthetically.

The political parties are no more forthcoming; each has determined that it is not in its interest to talk about the dead and wounded in Iraq.

I don't understand. We pulled Ambassador Paul Bremer out and replaced him with Ambassador John Negroponte. Why should that make our guys and gals, and their deaths and wounds, invisible?

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E28203%257E,00.html

[acmavm]

1. About frigging time. When the real casualty count comes in, if it ever

does, Americans will be horrified at the number of Americans who have been killed but not counted because they didn't die 'on the battlefield'.

This is one cold, heartless administration running this country. Support the troops, right? We don't have enough troops, they aren't armed sufficiently, they are being forced to stay beyond their time, and they don't even acknowledge their deaths.

[FloridaPat]

2. That was the plan. Since we are no longer "in charge" what happens

there is now "foreign news", which no on in the US ins interested in. They just snuck $25 billion more in the defense budget and no one said a word. All the money is going to Hallibuton and there is hardly a word. $20 billion disappears and the US refuses to discuss it.

[Kanary]

3. Let's bring it home... the DEMs refuse to discuss it.

Which begs the question........ what is their part in all this?

Kanary

[paulk]

10. as the article points out

it's the press that has dropped the ball by putting these stories in the back pages.

Why do you need to twist everything around to somehow blame the Democrats?

[Kanary]

12. Me? Twist? Everything? goodness....... that's rather broad.....

Actually, if you read the article, it also mentions the DEMs not making an issue of it.....

*EITHER* party.......

I have NO control over what the RW does, but I can sure speak up to the DEMs.

Or, we can forget the victims, and let it just roll on........

Kanary

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. "...they gave their lives for their country." Try Exxon and Lockheed.

A Nigerian immigrant and a Navajo? You can damn sure bet that they weren't benefiting from the war they were forced to fight for the bottom line.

[tech3149]

5. I thought this article was worth a response

Here' wat I had to say



John,

I was reading your piece in the Denver Post and wanted to give a little
feedback. At the age of 51 this will be the first time I cast a vote. I
knew in 1963 that politics was a dirty and devisive process that offered
less chance of benefit than a trip to Las Vegas. Around the middle of last
March, I knew that I had to play the game in spite of the odds.
Every day since then I have invested most waking hours to become informed
and try to change the direction of our country.
Every day since then I've shed tears and said prayers for people like Justin
and Harry, their families and those who love them.
Every day since then I've done what I can to make people aware of the cost
of our government policies.
Every day since then I've beat myself up for not doing something before now.


I know that there are those that don't have the time, energy, or
interest to find out what is going on in our world. I don't hold in against
them. We're all just trying to get through this life the best way we can.
I have found in these few month's that there are many who feel as I do. I
expect that this year and the next will be the most interesting of times.
There will be those that maintain their willfull ignorance or indifference,
but I expect it will be a smaller number than you expect.

I thank you for your efforts and hope that you get only positive
responses.

Sincerely,

[Kanary]

7. Great letter! Thanks for replying to the author....

I think they often get less positive response than negative. This may encourage more editorials like this.

I will hope that it gets published!

Kanary

[Eloriel]

8. Beautiful

would make a great LTE slightly modified. Please consider it.

[spanone]

6. I'm Ashamed that the Men Dying In Iraq get NO Recognition. Shameful.

Casualties in Iraq
The Human Cost of Occupation
Edited by Michael Ewens :: Contact



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Military Casualties in Iraq
List last updated 08/8/04 11:17 am EDT
Date Total In Combat

Since war began: 930 694
Since May 1, 2003 (the list) 791 584
Since Capture of Saddam: 470 389
Since Handover: 75 62
Total Wounded: 5692
FROM: www.ANITWAR.COM

[Sabriel]

9. Let's return to the Vietnam approach

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the media include a body count on the nightly news during the Vietnam War? How about a campaign to get that practice re-instated?

I'm sick of people in the US going about their daily lives without this military debacle slamming them in the face each and every moment. It was the same during the first Gulf invasion. Where are the citizens posting body count updates on signs on their lawns and in their windows?

[ItsMyParty]

11. DAMN STRAIGHT

I posted a few weeks ago that the press has nicely pulled Iraq off of page 1 and buried it because it will sink Bush. By November people will think that that "nice war to bring freedom to Iraq" is over and now they have freedom and shopping malls. Kerry has got to get this war back on Page One or we are playing right into his hands. Bush likes to surround himself with military photo ops BUT it was definitely stated months ago that he wants all the hell going on in Iraq out of the news before the elections. And the media is doing it for him as commanded. They switched, as he commanded, to Terror, Terror, Terror. We have to get the violence, the deaths, the money squandered, and the MESS back in front of the people. Kerry needs to stop going along with Bush's game plan of "what shall be talked about in this election" and get this in front of the people every day until November!!! Don't they see this???