Only 1 US soldier died in Afghanistan in November

[rasmasyean]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28001559/

So does this mean Taliban / Rebels are getting weaker?
Or does this mean the US is getting weaker by not hunting them down themselves and letting the Afghans do the half-arse dirty work?

Discuss... :)

[Schtumple]

Can't wait for the pro war people to spin this in a positive light.

Because you know, one person dying is apparently a good thing...
It's only one family that gets shattered and emotionally ruined...
And that's good... :confused:

[miloblithe]

There have been a lot of other deaths, including recent attacks in Kabul. Overall, 12 US+NATO troops died in November, lower than last year's 22 in November, but still the second highest November total to date.

http://icasualties.org/oef/

With the winter months ahead, deaths should remain relatively low. True success would reverse this trend:

Total US+NATO fatalities:

2003: 57 (48 US)
2004: 58 (52)
2005: 130 (99)
2006: 191 (98)
2007: 232 (117)
2008: 267 (152) (to date)

Afghanistan is a lot more complicated than Iraq, but if fatalities can be brought down to 2003 levels or lower, that would definitely be an improvement.

[Counterfit]

Can't wait for the pro war people to spin this in a positive light.

Because you know, one person dying is apparently a good thing...
It's only one family that gets shattered and emotionally ruined...
And that's good... :confused:

Well, it's certainly better than 2 or more people dying. Obviously 0 is the ideal.

[Schtumple]

Well, it's certainly better than 2 or more people dying. Obviously 0 is the ideal.

Yes but it's still not acceptable, no-one should've died...

[BoyBach]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28001559/

So does this mean Taliban / Rebels are getting weaker?
Or does this mean the US is getting weaker by not hunting them down themselves and letting the Afghans do the half-arse dirty work?


Obviously, it means that US troops are shirking their duty and not paying their "debt in blood". :rolleyes:

[és:]

I'd like to take this opportunity to remember Yubraj Rai, Robbert McKibben, Krishna-bahadur Dura, Alex Lucas, Georgie Sparks (19) and Tony Evans (20). The members of the British Army that died in November in Afghanistan.

Boys. Dead.

[nick9191]

What about all the innocent bystanders in Iraq and Afghanistan that we are killing? Are they less important than US soldiers?

[miloblithe]

What about all the innocent bystanders in Iraq and Afghanistan that we are killing? Are they less important than US soldiers?

Important to whom? No doubt, to their family and friends, they are far more important than U.S. soldiers.

[rasmasyean]

Important to whom? No doubt, to their family and friends, they are far more important than U.S. soldiers.

It's always tragic then stray bullets hit. It's part of any conflict and always has been. Though some of those "civilians" are often "military targets" or around military targets because they are participating indirectly in battle. And some others are "innocent" by some other standard measure. The bomb on Hiroshima was one such memorable mass scale event where it's unclear where you draw the line.

As for the US soldiers and other combatants on all sides...
Although no one wants to die (or knows when they will) and no "family and friends " want them to die, you have to remember that being a combatant is voluntary. These people do what they do and accept the possible consequences...to contribute to a cause that they deem is worthy. You can weep for them, or be "proud" of them. I'm sure most of them would prefer the latter. Their life is important, but so is their death. To think otherwise would be belittling their contribution, imho.

[miloblithe]

...you have to remember that being a combatant is voluntary...

Well, being a U.S. soldier is arguably voluntary, but being a "combatant" is kind of another thing. Any relationship is a two-way street. People sign up with certain expectations, beliefs, understandings, and so on about what they are signing up for. One soldier's "cause" is different from anothers, and it would simply be untrue to assume that all soldiers think we should be fighting these wars.

I think it's a convenient argument to say that no soldier has the right to complain because they volunteered--and by extension no war can be criticized because we have a volunteer military--doesn't hold water. I also volunteered for my current job. Does that mean I can't criticize aspects of it or actions of my company?

[JW8725]

Soliders die, thats what wars are about. Its the innocent Afganistani people I would rather hear about. How many of those poor innocent people have been killed?

I'm past hearing about how many soldiers died doing what..etc.

[NT1440]

1 soldier dead, one too many

how many dozens/hundreds of innocent civilians died this week tho?

edit: and be proud vs sad for their loss? Thats just twisted on so many levels....

[TSE]

Soliders die, thats what wars are about. Its the innocent Afganistani people I would rather hear about. How many of those poor innocent people have been killed?

I'm past hearing about how many soldiers died doing what..etc.

Are you being serious?

[leekohler]

Are you being serious?

A lot of us are irritated that all we hear bout is soldiers' deaths, but not Iraqi or Afghani deaths. They're people too, after all. And before you even say it, I have had several friends and family members fight in this war. I am extremely concerned for our soldiers, but it would be nice if these reports included all who have lost their lives.

[TSE]

A lot of us are irritated that all we hear bout is soldiers' deaths, but not Iraqi or Afghani deaths. They're people too, after all. And before you even say it, I have had several friends and family members fight in this war. I am extremely concerned for our soldiers, but it would be nice if these reports included all who have lost their lives.

Yes. I agree, we should hear more about other people's lives too, but that is not what he said.

[NT1440]

Yes. I agree, we should hear more about other people's lives too, but that is not what he said.

I think you read far too much into what he said.

[TSE]

I think you read far too much into what he said.

Let's hope so. Let's hope he didn't actually mean what he said and the words just came out wrong.

[iJohnHenry]

Way to go U.S.A. :rolleyes:

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/afghanistan/story.html?id=1036387

[TSE]

There are so many things wrong with your post, iJohnHenry. So many things.

RIP the 3 Canadian soldiers.

[NT1440]

There are so many things wrong with your post, iJohnHenry. So many things.

RIP the 3 Canadian soldiers.
What is wrong with that post?

[TSE]

He doesn't even acknowledge the guys who died. He just simply says a smartass comment after posting a link to it. That is terribly rude and disrespectful.

[iJohnHenry]

What is wrong with that post?

Let him rant. I can take it.

The U.S. got us into this mess, and now our boys are paying the price.

Now what was wrong with my post??

[NT1440]

He doesn't even acknowledge the guys who died. He just simply says a smartass comment after posting a link to it. That is terribly rude and disrespectful.

So we have to continuously say RIP in every post or we are disrespectful?

And the comment was actually before the link.

[TSE]

Let him rant. I can take it.

The U.S. got us into this mess, and now our boys are paying the price.

Now what was wrong with my post??

Canada is an independent country from the USA, True or False?

[iJohnHenry]

Would that it were true.

[NT1440]

Canada is an independent country from the USA, True or False?

o. my. god.

Who started the war?

Can you honestly say these men would be dead if we didnt start it?

Canada is an ally of ours.

[synth3tik]

A lot of us are irritated that all we hear bout is soldiers' deaths, but not Iraqi or Afghani deaths. They're people too, after all. And before you even say it, I have had several friends and family members fight in this war. I am extremely concerned for our soldiers, but it would be nice if these reports included all who have lost their lives.

Not only are they people as well, but A large portion of the fatalities are Iraqi and Afghanistan troops as well as other NATO forces. They are fighting on the same side, however any news on their troops does not make it to US airwaves to often.

[iJohnHenry]

however any news on their troops does not make it to US airwaves to often.

Which is why I had to counter this "only 1 dead American in November" thread. :(

[TSE]

o. my. god.

Who started the war?

Can you honestly say these men would be dead if we didnt start it?

Canada is an ally of ours.

I disagree completely with everything the Iraq War and Afghanistan War is. I absolutely hate it, but I support our troops, I support Canada's troops, I support Afghanistan's troops, I support British troops. I think we should seal our borders and be a Neutral country. But that doesn't mean just because the USA starts something everyone blames the USA like little 5 year olds that don't get what they want for Christmas. Canada is an independent country, sorry but if they really wanted to say no to the war they very well could.

Hey, McDonalds was made in the US, let's blame obesity on the US. :rolleyes:

[iJohnHenry]

Obesity, unlike war, does not travel well, so we are good on that point.