Expressing Opinions

March 2008

According to the web site Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, Americans who died this month:

• 37 died in Iraq
• 8 died in Afghanistan

Bringing the total amount of American soldiers who died in Iraq to 4011 and in Afghanistan to 491.

Since the beginning of the war in Iraq through February 2008, there have been 29,314 soldiers wounded.

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

Yesterday a milestone was reached. The 4,000th American soldier died in Baghdad.

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080324-02
March 24, 2008

MND-B Soldiers attacked by IED
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Four Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers were killed at
approximately 10 p.m. March 23 after terrorists attacked them with an
improvised-explosive device in southern Baghdad while conducting a mounted
vehicular patrol.

One additional Soldier was injured from this attack.

The Soldier’s names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin
and release by the Department of Defense.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_
content&task=view&id=17787&Itemid=128

Over 500,000,000,000 (5 billion) dollars have been spent on the Iraq war alone. While here at home many Americans are struggling with the high cost of fuel, food, health care, and housing. Americans appear to have lost interest in the wars, but when are they going to draw the correlation between the cost of the war and the economy? And what about the cost to America in the loss of life and the lives of those who return severely injured?

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

How aware are you? Where do you get your information from? Is your source of information unbiased and honest? These are some of the questions researchers have about the media.

One unbiased research group is The Pew Research Center. It finds just 28% of Americans are aware of military fatalities in Iraq. Down from the 54% who knew in August. The researchers at the Pew Research Center believe this decline in awareness is due to the drop in the attention the media is giving the war.

So as you read, listen or watch the news, remember there are other news stories which are going untold. This leads me to ask why do all of the major American news media outlets always cover the same stories? Yet if you check the BBC or sources from other countries they have many stories which go untold in this country. So much for a free press.

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

Everyone seems to be talking about who is going to be the Democratic candidate for president? I guess the media talking heads forgot to mention an American soldier was killed from injuries sustained in an explosion while conducting combat operations in the Diyala Province of Northern Iraq.

It may have been that soldiers job to be there, but it does not lessen the pain to his brothers-in-arms or loved ones. Support our soldiers, bring them home now.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080308-01
March 8, 2008

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

February 2008

According to the web site Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, Americans who died this month:

• 29 died in Iraq
• 1 died in Afghanistan

Bringing the total amount of American soldiers who died in Iraq to 3973 and in Afghanistan to 483.

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

Today I caught part of a news conference with that retard (yes retard – and believe me I am being very nice by calling that piece of sh*t a retard) President Bush making comments on the economy. Every time he speaks I wonder who is the puppet master? All I can picture in my mind is VP Dickhead Cheney hiding behind Bush with his hand stuffed up Bush’s ass and having him say what he or his rethuglican buddies want him to say.

Anyway CNN reports during the news conference:

When asked what advice he would give to the average person facing the prospect of gas prices hitting $4 per gallon, Bush stopped the reporter and said, “What did you just say? You’re predicting $4 a gallon gas?”

“That’s interesting. I hadn’t heard that,” he said at the Thursday news conference.

With that kind of response it makes me wonder how far does he have his head up his ass? He must have one big ass to have his head, all that bullsh*t, and Cheney’s hand up there. But then too, he is a 100% ass to begin with.

Bush supports spying on Americans, promises to veto a bill to stop giving oil companies tax breaks, totally raped the economy, has no concern for global warming, and is responsible for the deaths of 3973 soldiers in Iraq. I could go on, but it would just get uglier. I will be glad when the world’s biggest and most arrogant terrorist is out of office.

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

The United States and the State of Oregon flags will be flown at half-staff throughout the state Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, in memory and honor of Private Joshua Anthony Richard Young of Riddle, Oregon who died Monday, Jan. 28, 2008 in Mosul, Iraq.

Governor Ted Kulongoski ordered all flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Thursday, February 7, 2008, in memory of Army Private First Class Joshua A.R. Young, of Riddle, OR.

Young, 21, was killed in action on Monday, January 28, 2008 when his High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Mosul, Iraq. Young was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

“Joshua was an upstanding young man who served our state and our country with courage and conviction,” said Governor Kulongoski. “He will be missed but never forgotten.”

As the father of soldier who has served a tour in Iraq and is going to return there, I understand what Joshua Young’s father, Anthony Young means when he said,

“You can’t ever prepare yourself for something like this.”

Oregon’s Governor order flags flown at half staff today in honor of Sergeant Mikeal W. Miller of Albany, Oregon who died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008.

In Governor Ted Kulongoski’s press release it states:

Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff in Memory of Oregon Soldier
Flags to be lowered Saturday, February 2, 2008 in honor of Sgt. Mikeal W. Miller

Salem – Today Governor Ted Kulongoski ordered all flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Saturday, February 2, 2008, in memory of Sgt. Mikeal W. Miller, of Albany .

Miller, 22, passed away on January 27, 2008 after being injured July 9, 2007 when his vehicle encountered an IED in Baghdad, Iraq. Miller was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

“Mikeal served his country and his state with great honor and distinction,” said Governor Kulongoski. “He will be missed by his friends and family and will always be remembered by the citizens of Oregon for his ultimate sacrifice.”

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

Another statistic of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are in suicides and mental health issues. These are linked to long wars, repeat deployments, a stigma in the Army if you ask for help and a lack of resources to help those soldiers in need.

Washington Post reporter Dana Priest reports:

The Army was unprepared for the high number of suicides and cases of post-traumatic stress disorder among its troops, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have continued far longer than anticipated. Many Army posts still do not offer enough individual counseling and some soldiers suffering psychological problems complain that they are stigmatized by commanders.

It is hard enough on those deployed in war zones and the families of the soldiers who are left home. But what should be a joyous time for families when their service member returns home from the war zone, often turns into a more difficult time attempting to cope with mental disorders such as depression and PTSD, of which the Army does not want to recognize and chastise soldiers who report problems.

The soldiers and their families are ill equipped to deal with these issues and the chain of command does want to. What are these families to do? They did what was asked of them and now they need help. Contact your elected officials at USA..gov and let them know these soldiers need help.

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

January 2008

According to the web site Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, Americans who died this month:

• 40 died in Iraq
• 7 died in Afghanistan

Bring the total amount of American soldiers who died in Iraq to 3944 and in Afghanistan to 482.

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.