Real History and Bush’s war on terror The Index to the Traditional Enemies of Free Speech Alphabetical index (text) The Arizona Republic Number of Wounded Soldiers on Increase Vernon Loeb of the Washington Post Washington– U.S.
battlefield casualties in Iraq are increasing dramatically in the face of continued attacks by remnants of Saddam Hussein ‘s military and other forces, with almost ten American troops a day now being officially declared “wounded in action.” The number of those wounded in action, which totals 1,124 since the war began in March, has grown so large and attacks have become so commonplace that U.S.
Central Command usually issues press releases listing injuries only when the attacks kill one or more troops. The result is that many injuries go unreported. The rising number and quickening pace of soldiers being wounded on the battlefield have been overshadowed by the number of troops killed since President Bush declared an end to major combat operations May 1.
But alongside those Americans killed in action, an even greater toll of battlefield wounded continues unabated, with an increasing number being injured through small-arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, remote-controlled mines and what the Pentagon refers to as “improvised explosive devices.” Indeed, the number of troops wounded in action in Iraq is now more than twice that of the Persian Gulf War in 1991.
The total increased more than 35 percent in August, with an average of almost ten troops a day injured last month. Fifty-five Americans were wounded in action last week alone. From March 19 to April 30, 550 U.S. troops were wounded in action in Iraq. Since May 1, the number totals 574. The number of troops killed in Iraq since the beginning of May already has surpassed the total killed during the height of the war.
Pentagon officials point to advances in military medicine as one of the reasons behind the large number of wounded soldiers; many lives are being saved on the battlefield that in past conflicts would have been lost. Although Central Command keeps a running total of the wounded, it releases the number only when asked.
With no fanfare and almost no public notice, giant C-17 transport jets arrive virtually every night at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, on medical evacuation missions. “Our nation doesn’t know that,” said Susan Brewer , president and founder of America’s Heroes of Freedom, a non-profit organization that collects clothing and other personal items for the returning troops. “Sort of out of sight and out of mind.” On Thursday night, a C-17 arrived at Andrews with 44 patients from Iraq.
Ambulances arrived to take the most seriously wounded to the nation’s two premier military hospitals, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. On Friday morning, smaller C-130 transports began arriving to take the walking wounded and less seriously injured to their home bases, from Fort Bragg in North Carolina to Fort Lewis in Washington state.
Troops wounded in action not listed among casualties KEEP TRACK OF ACTUAL DEATHS IN IRAQ The above item is reproduced without editing other than typographical Register your name and address to go on the Mailing List to receive or to hear when and where he will next speak near you 2003