How many US soldiers will die before the War Against Iraq is over?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

Poll question: How many US soldiers will die before the War Against Iraq is over?

Most of our candidates agree with Bush that we need to "get the job done" in Iraq and that we can't just "cut and run". In fact, most candidates agree with Bush that we will be occupying Iraq for years. In a previous poll, half of DU responses said we'd be in Iraq for 20 years or more.

So how many US troops will die in Iraq before the war is over?

[lcordero]

1. Hold on

I have to change my vote since I'm taking into consideration that the war is going to be extended into the rest of the Middle East and Asia.

From 100,000-1,000,000 to over a million.

[toodles_oduff]

5. With an expansion of war, all bets are off!

If we go into Syria or Iran next, or try to prop up the Saudis if revolt finally happens in that country. We may be sitting on top of the Iraqi reserves, but if there's a serious attempt to overthrow the Saudi royals, don't look for Bush & Co. to just look on from across the border. I also predict that they'll start up the draft again.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

22. that would be WWIII

I'm sure I'd have to add a new category.

[mmm]

2. you mean real count.. or what they tell us

[POed_Ex_Repub]

3. How about we just say "Too many"

I think that's a number we can all agree on.

[bookman]

4. Ditto

Too many came to mind when I saw the question.

And we are already at too many.

[pansypoo53219]

6. too many

period

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. As many as it will take until America gets sick of it.

Just like in Vietnam. When enough bodybags come home and the American people realize that it was done to keep the capitalists fat & happy at their expense.

[HawkerHurricane]

8. I find your question offensive.

Speaking as a potential statistic, I'd rather NOT have people making predictions like this. It smells of the 'terrorist futures market' the (mis)administration was trying to sell.

[lostnfound]

9. Agreed.

Sorry, WhoCounts, but it does seem a bit brutal and too easily misconstrued.

[salinen]

10. This administration is more

likely to be counting the numbers of destroyed tanks and jets than soldiers.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

14. perhaps I should have sugar-coated it?

Sorry, next time I will ask - how many personnel units will be rendered incapable by the end of the police action? Help me out - which euphemism should I use, or should I just simply not think about it?

I have family and friends over there right now, by the way.

[HawkerHurricane]

17. Don't sugar coat it

I feel you should have left the question retorical, not added a poll to ask DUers how many like it was some contest or betting pool.

And the last line of this post:
"I have family and friends over there right now, by the way."
Sounds reminiscent of the old canard "Why, some of my best friends are..."
It doesn't excuse it.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

21. I'm not apologizing, nor making an excuse

I stand by the post 100%. No disrespect intended, but if this post offends people, GOOD. War is offensive.

[leftofthedial]

11. I think it is highly likely that 1000 have died already

since those who later die of wounds aren't counted.

[BackDoorMan]

12. I won't vote on how many people will die. The invasion will never be over

as long as there are oil fields in Iraq to exploit. That's it. End of conversation!

[wuushew]

13. I predict 800 "officially" dead by election day

the overall trend has been quite stable and consistent with the noticeable spike in November.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

15. is there an official count right now?

?

[Hubert Flottz]

16. As many as it takes to protect Bushco's interests in Iraq!

Soldiers are just chess pieces to Bushco!

[Bonobo]

18. Trick Question!

It will never end.

[seemslikeadream]

19. Please remember - More than 9,600 Gulf War veterans have died

According to the Department of Defense,by 1999, the military revealed

As many as 100,000 U.S. troops were exposed to repeated low-levels of chemical warfare agents, including sarin, cyclosarin, and mustard gases;

More that 250,000 received the investigational new drug pyridostigmine bromide (PB pills the Pentagon"cannot rule out as linked to Gulf War illnesses;

150,000 received the hotly debated anthrax vaccine

436,000 entered into or lived for months within ares contaminated by more than 315 tons of depleted uranium radioactive toxic waste possibly laced with trace amounts of highly radioactive Plutonium and Neptunium, almost all without any awareness, training, protective equipment, or medical evaluations; and

Hundreds of thousands lived outdoors for months near more that 700 burning oil well fires belching fumes and particulate matter without any protective equipment.

Each of these exposures took place while troops were either engaged in combat, serving in a war zone, or stationed in the volatile region for a number of months.

www.ngwrc.org

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

20. and they covered up Gulf War Syndrome for years

These people are shameless! How do they sleep at night?