What happens when the US deaths in Iraq clear 1000?

[bluestateguy]

I'd say we are a week--no more than two--from that dreadful threshold. It will be the first overseas military operation since Vietnam in which America has lost over 1000 troops.

Lately, the corporate media seems to blow off each new casualty in Iraq, so I am wondering if they will make a fuss over the 1000 mark being crossed. I also wonder if the American people will step up their opposition to the war.

[LiberalVoice]

1. Of course they won't.

The media doesn't give a shit how many soldiers die there. And to be quite honest neither do most americans. If they did they would be fighting * for sending us there for no reason.

John Q. Public is more interested in showing their patriotism then standing up for the real patriots. "Go America" and all that bullshit. Supporting our troops would get in the way of their flag waving. They disgust me.

[RoyGBiv]

2. Nothing...

Unfortunately, nothing will happen. It'll be a blip, if that.

I was talking with some co-workers the other day about Iraq, some of whom were even opposed to the war, and I asked if any of them knew how many people had died in the war so far. I intentionally used the word "people" to gage their perspectives. None of them -- not one -- knew within 800 how many Americans had been killed, and as far as casualties were concerned, no one knew within a few thousand. As for civilian casualties or Iraqi deaths, no one even had an educated guess. Predictably, the association between "people" and "deaths" was initially made in the context of American deaths.

One guy actually said no more than a "couple dozen" Americans had been killed, and he tried to argue the point. (Thankfully, we have Internet access at work.) Before I showed him various websites, he went off on a rant about it, the liberal media, etc. I just listened in awe of his stupidity. (It was not simple ignorance.)

[tibbir]

3. There will be very little reaction, if any.

The media will mention it in passing - once only. The public will not hear the news as they get ready to work at their third job that day.

[Ruffhowse]

4. If we're lucky, God will direct some divine justice Bush's way.

[mopaul]

5. a one day story

then counting to the next 1000 dead begins. don't count the dead, and don't show the coffins

[Disturbed]

7. Suuport the troops

Is merely a slogan. The only people that care about the troops are their families and relatives.

[jody]

9. I don't agree that it "Is merely a slogan"

Many people, perhaps the vast majority of Americans, do care about the troops. That's true whether someone is anti war, pro war, or neutral.

[jody]

6. One way to remember the 1,000 deaths

[lostnfound]

14. Poignant. nt

[Downtown Hound]

8. Newspapers will discuss it more than cable news

It will get attention, but sadly, that attention will be short lived. The media stopped announcing casualties in the weeks leading up to the Republican convention. This was not a coincidence. They will do everything they can to minimize the damage to Bush.

[Hekate]

10. Our local Vets for Peace voted to keep adding crosses...

...to our once a week Arlington West at the beach. It really takes a lot of effort to store, transport, and set up the hundreds of crosses we already have, and we know that 1,000 is a big threshold to cross. But when we talked it over in our last monthly meeting it quickly became clear that everyone wants to continue adding crosses and writing name cards. The bereaved come to visit and look for the name of their fallen servicemember. Tourists passing by stop in their tracks -- the two most frequent comments are: "What war is this for?" and "I didn't know there were so many!"

Hekate

"Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war." ~Donald Rumsfeld

"But why should we hear about body bags and deaths and how many,
what day it's going to happen, and how many this or what do you
suppose? Oh, I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my
beautiful mind on something like that?" ~Barbara Bush

"Do these people live on another planet?" ~Hekate

Arlington West, Santa Barbara, California
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Default.htm
click on the large photo of AW to go here and scroll down:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Arlington_west_121003.htm

[VolcanoJen]

11. Early reports say six US Marines killed in Fallujah.

At least six US Marines killed in Fallujah ambush

Sadly, I think we'll reach this tragic milestone sooner, rather than later. :-(

[Jacobin]

12. crickets chirping

[lostnfound]

13. One thing that will happen is a candlelight memorial..

In Houston. http://www.mamabrigade.org/1000soldiers.html

I know it's not what you meant but there's a few of us here trying to make sure it doesn't go unnoticed.

[Zynx]

15. Psychologically it's important if the media would hit Bush for once.