Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties
as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 2438
Most recent casualties
January 5, 2006 
Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan S. McCurdy,20, of Baton Rouge, La. 
Marine Cpl. Albert P. Gettings, 27, of New Castle, Pa.
Army Pvt. Robbie M. Mariano, 21, of Stockton, Calif. 
Army Sgt. Johnny J. Peralez Jr., 25, of Kingsville, Texas 
Army Sgt. 1st Class Stephen J. White, 39, of Talladega, Ala. 
Army Spc. Ryan D. Walker, 25, of Stayton, Ore.
Army Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin, 44, of Mercer, Pa.
Marine Sgt. Adam L. Cann, 23, of Davie, Fla.
Army Capt. Christopher P. Petty, 33, of Vienna, Va
Army Maj. William F. Hecker III,37, of St. Louis, Mo
Army Sgt. Jason Lopez-Reyes, 29, of Hatillo, Puerto Rico
January 1, 2006 
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason L. Bishop, 31, of Williamstown, Ky.
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Vanderhorn, 37, of Pierce, Wash.
Complete Casualty List
posted by EAPrez @ 10:15 AM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
I would suggest separating the casualties from the two operations, because except that the Bush administration mismanaged both wars, they have nothing in common.
Operation Enduring Freedom was the perfectly justified action taken (and still being taken) by our country after Sept. 11 to bring to justice the people who murdered 3,000 Americans that day. As far as the government of Afghanistan was offering them safe refuge, we had every right as a nation which was victimized by an act of war to respond accordingly. And as long as Osama and the rest of his gang are still hiding out somewhere along the Afghan-Pakistani border, we should continue to hunt them.
Operation Iraqi Freedom was a naked war of aggression against a nation which had no connection to 9/11, at best only tenuous connections to al-Qaeda, and which was, a dozen years after suffering a catastrophic defeat followed by sanctions and keeping it in the proverbial 'box,' absolutely no threat to us. None.
True, all of the men and women deserve to be remembered for what they did on behalf of the United States. But 200 of them died fighting a necessary and unavoidable war which was thrust upon us, while 2200 died fighting an unnecessary and very avoidable war which we went out and started.
Just remember how right after 9/11, the rest of the world was right there with us in going into Afghanistan, and that had all been squandered within two years because of our stupid and ill-advised foray into Iraq.
About the #'s of KIA - your point is well taken - HOWEVER - a bit about why I decided to start posting these a couple of months ago.
One would hardly know that our country is presently involved in two wars. It's barely mentioned in the evening news and barely talked about at the water cooler. Other than those serving in the military - no one is being asked to sacrifice. We continue to use all the resources we want and spend time and energy on mindless pursuits. We also fail to hold our government accountable for what its doing in our name which is why we were targeted to begin with - not because of our freedom.
For over two years I have made it a habit to record The Newshour on PBS - and every day, even if I don't watch the program in its entirety I fast forward to the end to watch the daily roll call of the dead. I do this because I feel compelled to do it. I feel a duty to look at the names and faces and to consider - even if briefly - the life that is lost. I study the faces and the ages and wonder about their lives and the loved ones left behind. It is my way of honoring them. Everyone should be required to look at these faces and acknowledge the sacrifice - no matter where they died.
Without engaging directly with me - one could probably conclude from looking at this blog that I do not support what we are doing in Iraq. However, the names and numbers that I post here is not done to protest our invasion and occupation of Iraq. I post them to honor their ultimate sacrifice - and if placing their names and faces here causes one person to consider that there are real people behind the numbers than the time spent cutting and pasting and posting them here is time well spent. I simply can't think of separating them as doing so portrays this attitude that some of the deaths are 'just' and some are 'unjust' NONE of them are justified in my view. These lives were lost because in the year 2006, mankind still refuses to evolve.
I have to disagree with your point that we were thrust into Afghanistan or that it was unavoidable for us to be there. The evidence clearly shows that the Bush Administration ignored strong evidence that something was about to happen and failed to act aggressively. Those two hundred deaths in my view were avoidable just as the 3000 casualties we sustained on 9/11 were avoidable. Americans for the most part are still too filled with fear, beer and bullshit ideology to consider that the president was complacent, complicit or simply a miserable failure prior to 9/11. There's no outrage, no demand for accountability. We are at a precipice in our country - and I for one am not hopeful that people will become engaged enough to act...or that by the time they do, it will be too late. I think our democracy - such as it is - is very fragile right now - and, I'm afraid.
Based on your suggestion - In the future, I will probably post two totals to differentiate the two but am going to keep posting the names by the date they died. The date they died far away from home, far away from familiar faces and far away from any semblance of sanity.
Thanks for posting. I love reading your comments and hope all is well with your wife.
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