Coalition casualties in Afghanistan
To the editor:
As of Oct. 30, 2012, there have been 3,027 coalition deaths in Afghanistan alone as part of the ongoing coalition operations of Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF in 2001. In addition to these deaths there were another 33 U.S. and one Canadian soldier killed in other countries while supporting operations in Afghanistan and 62 Spanish soldiers who were killed in Turkey in 2003 when their plane crashed. That brings the total number to 3,123 killed in Afghanistan alone. Since it all began in 2001, the deadliest year for military deaths was in 2010, which had 711 deaths. Coalition fatalities since the start of the war in 2001 increased nearly 40 percent in 2009 with the newly elected President Obama and they have stayed higher per year then any year during 2001 thru 2008. Yes, it is Obama’s war now. He is commander in chief since January 2009.
In 2009 there were 7,228 IED attacks in Afghanistan. A whopping 120 percent increase over 2008 and prior, and a record setter for the war. Also in 2010, insurgents planted 14,661 IEDs, which was a 62 percent increase over the previous year of 2008 and prior. The number dead for 2012 is 377.
There are 22 countries involved in the coalition. In 2008 when Obama’s predecessor left office, Al-Quaida was in 2 countries. Today, Al-Quaida is in 30 countries. Imagine that. Obama killed Osama and mysteriously Bin Laden’s terror network got bigger, 28 countries bigger. The number of reported deaths from the war in Afghanistan from 2009 through 2012 has stayed higher each year then any year during 2001 through 2008.
Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 17,619 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action according to the Defense Department. Also one U.S. soldier is currently being held as a prisoner of war since June 30, 2009. Did you know that? Why is there no mention of any of this by the main stream media and why would America vote to re-elect four more years of this and other detrimental increases? We now know it is because America’s seemingly illogical population is the majority rule. Only illogical people would vote for four more years of fallen and wounded soldiers, increases in tax rates and regulations, increases in food prices, increases in fuel prices, increases in unemployment, increases in poverty, increases in constitutional breeches, increases in debt and government spending and decreases in take home pay for those who have a job, and feel “relieved” about it. Bravo illogical ones! Pat yourselves on the back you have won your revenge on your fellow Americans. You have also managed to perplex the sanity that remains. Way to go.
Let freedom reign!
Dawn Shevlin
St. James City