500,000 dead civilians!
I'd like to know where 500,000 dead civilians comes in. Desert Storm resulted in 2300 Iraqi non-combatants killed. That was a pretty massive bombing campaign. That's an increase of 217 times more!
Seems WAY overestimated.
Yes the lose of any innocent life is horrific. I by no means mean to marginalize this, but the numbers seem too skewed to keep being bandied about.
Here's my source on that number...
http://www.historyguy.com/GulfWar.html
I want to add this from an article by a George Lopez written in 09/91...
"There have been no precise estimates of civilian casualties during the war. The most intelligent guesses have been broad ranging: "5,000--15,000 Iraqi civilians died during the war, and 4,000-6,000 civilians died since the end of the war due to wounds, lack of medical care, or malnutrition," according to Greenpeace."
Yes a much larger number, but a FAR cry from 500,000.
At what point do we say "diplomacy at all costs"? Even if it means sacrificing your own family members? Your own friends? When do we give up our own safety for the idealism of peace?
I am certainly no fan of the Bush. No fan of war. But look into your own heart and do you really truly honestly believe George Bush wants to kill Iraq's citizens? DO you think he is sooooo evil and sooooo smart to have cooked up this masterful plan for world domination? Have you ever thought you were right about something, so much so you got into a huge argument with a loved one. Only to find out later you were wrong. What if this is one of those times. What IF Bush is right. What if your inability to see both sides of the coin resulted in your wife/husband/sister/brother/etc losing their life.
All I ask is that those that oppose the war outright and unconditionally, think about why the average Joe supports it while you don't. I know it's much easier to hurl accusations at Bush and make fun of his eyes beign too close together. But think. I do. I dunno what we should do. But I keep thinking and won't stop and swallow ANYTHING that ANYBODY tells me. Just seems that too many people on both sides keep doing just that.
So the same goes for all the pro-war people. Is there a better way? Something deep down tells me that this time there isn't.