The NY Times article also caught my attention; there was another today about an OIF veteran wounded and his slow path to recovery. Having read the vague accounts about statistics, I looked and discovered a site that endeavors to display an accurate count. I also wanted to contribute towards helping these wounded vets. Feel free to comment on this effort...at http://memorymaps.blogspot.com.

David

I'm guessing you guys over here in Mudville aren't big on irony the way you use a George Orwell quote to intro your blog so I'll skip the smart-ass crap and get right to it.

Think about the lives that could've been saved by the powers that be not [profanity deleted] this war up in the first place. Think about how many lives could've been saved if Rummy'd been a little less worried about doing it quickly and a little more worried about doing it right. Think about the lives that could've been saved by up-armoring Humvees BEFORE they got to the TO, by making sure there was a plan for securing the country BEFORE we rolled in, hell, by training some of our dudes to speak [profanity deleted] Arabic. The ways this war was [profanity deleted] at the root are too numerous to mention and as military men, you guys should be able to see that.

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Those are also Orwell quotes, you know, in keeping with your theme...

"..as military men, you guys should be able to see that."

Think about that another minute.

Heya, I thought I had imagined that blip a few weeks ago on CNN about the armor controversy. Will they wear it or not. Was looking for some facts, rather then the nonsense posted on sites.

Thank You for the read~~

Getting folks to wear their safety gear is every platoon leader's nightmare. Even the use of a good pair of ballistic glasses will make you less susceptible to an incapacitating injury. DoD provides reimbursement for soldiers who buy their own protective gear, it's available and has been authorized for some time!

I bought a few small items when I went over and found the biggest challenge keeping soldiers focused on the possible threats when things were so quiet.

By the way, I was surprised at the low number of amputations. I would be interested to know what the primary reason was for that? Hopefully a fully functional CJSRC!

"Guts" ... before you go ripping on this Administration you need to read this for perspective. I'd say our President is in good company.

Think about the lives that could've been saved by the powers that be not [profanity deleted] this war up in the first place.

Think about the lives that would CONTINUE to be lost in Iraq by not taking Saddam & Sons out ... and lives that would be lost over here, were they to empower terrorists further.

Think about how many lives could've been saved if Rummy'd been a little less worried about doing it quickly and a little more worried about doing it right.

And if you were in his position -- given Saddam's ties to WMD and terrorism, in a post-911 world -- timeliness would be a big factor to you.

Think about the lives that could've been saved by up-armoring Humvees BEFORE they got to the TO, by making sure there was a plan for securing the country BEFORE we rolled in, hell, by training some of our dudes to speak [profanity deleted] Arabic.

We undertook something that is almost unprecedented in the history of armed conflict -- the complete removal of a tyranical regime, without grinding the people of their nation to powder first. This is new ground ... and mistakes were inevitible.

And, be sure to pass the blame around ... to those Leftists in the international community that compelled an otherwise-prudent President in 1991 to not finish the job ... and instead re-enact the Bay of Pigs in the MidEast. No wonder the Shiites didn't welcome us with flowers and hugs.

"The ways this war was [profanity deleted] at the root are too numerous to mention and as military men, you guys should be able to see that."

This situation was "[profanity deleted]" (note: preemptive deletion by commenter) well before this Administration took power, thanks to all those among us who exhibited a knee-jerk aversion to the timely, credible, and decisive use of American force against thugs and tyrants ... and encouraged our leaders to let the Saddam's and Osamas live and fester, instead of taking them out as soon as they gave evidence of their true intentions.

You need to spread the blame around, but I doubt you will ... for your application of Orwell's quotes indicates that you are part of this last group, IMO.