I'm a US Air Force reservist who served nearly 5 months in Iraq this year

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/letters/cst-edt-vox17a.html

The whole story



I am a U.S. Air Force reservist who served nearly five months in Iraq this year. I was wondering why the media do not report war-related deaths and wounded. There have been nearly 7,000 wounded in Iraq, of which 4,000 have not been returned to duty. I believe both numbers give a more accurate report of the sacrifices our military members are making. The Defense Department Web site, www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.pdf, will provide you a daily update. Do our men and women of the military a favor and report the whole story.

Joe Almodovar,
Plainfield

[madinmaryland]

1. Glad to see you made it back alive.

I have been wondering the same thing. There are a couple of sites (not well known) that have been posting this info. They are probably getting it from the link you provided.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Welcome home soldier

and why the medis is not reporting this?

FOLLOW THE MONEY, the media has trillions of bizz before teh Republican congress

[Droopy]

3. Good point. Every once in a while I'll see a story

showing soldiers who were wounded in Iraq. But I don't think I've ever seen any numbers on how many have been wounded in the news. I wonder what the deal is with that? Couldn't be due to a bias for the current administration now could it?

[Tims]

4. I remember

during the Viet Nam War, all the TV network news programs would begin (end) each week with a tally of those killed and wounded on both sides of the conflict. Whether you supported the war or not, the cost of the war was made apparent every time you turned on the TV. The lack of reporting deaths and wounded on a regular basis is alone the biggest proof of collusion between this neocon administration and the news media. Only by not reporting these numbers can support for this particular war be maintained. There is no credible reason why it should not be reported regardless of one's political stance right or left. The right should be outraged that we don't acknowledge the sacrifice of these soldiers and the left should be outraged that it is a blatant attempt to sugar coat the war and perpetuate the myth of a modern bloodless technological war.

If a war cannot be supported without hiding the blood, then that war is not worth fighting. In WWII we knew how much blood was being spilled but we also knew what was at stake. If America is really behind this war, it's resolve will not be shaken by knowing and acknowledging the magnitude of the actual scarifices being made.

[skygazer]

5. Very good question

One I've been asking for a while. Since wounded tend to run at least 3 times the number of deaths, it's certainly a valid issue. Thanks for bringing it up and welcome home. Hope they don't send you back!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

6. Thank you for loving our freedoms

sorry you had to go on this misbegotten adventure

[MazeRat7]

7. Thank-You

Thank-you so very much for your sacrifice and enduring unimaginable hardship while trying your very best to "serve" our country. It is truly honorable what you have done. My only hope is that no American soldier will ever again be sent into combat under the same erroneous circumstances that caused you to spend those months in Iraq.

Welcome home !!!

MZr7