More Numbers
Back in June I wrote a diary in response to Tony Snow's "Numbers" comment. Back then the "Number" was 2500. Today it is 2639 and combined with the 333 killed in Afghanistan it puts us at 2972 - just 14 short of the 2986 killed on September 11th. Sorry, update, 12 short. Two more service members were killed in Iraq, Numbers 63 and 64 this month. I had thought these two might converge on September 11th 2006 but sadly due to a spike in violence in Afghanistan, the Numbers will likely cross about the same time Congress returns and the "real" campaign starts.
Yes, I did say spike in Afghanistan. While the President is on TV telling everyone that things are going great in Iraq, in Afghanistan, not so much. Total Coalition deaths for the year have reached 122 (74 US/48 Other), just 8 shy of the previous worst year - last year - when 130 died. Last year was worse that the year before and the year before worse than the year before that. I will go out on a limb and call it a trend.
And how about sunny Iraq? Causalities are down to an average of 50 per month from 70.5 the year before and 70.66 the year before that. That would be good news but for the second straight year the ratio of dead to wounded has increased meaning each attack has an increased likelihood of killing. The number of non-enemy action deaths has also gone down each year meaning soldiers are making fewer mistakes but so are the bad guys.
But those are just numbers.
I have never been to the funeral for a number. I have never cried for a number. But I stood at attention in my dress uniform with tears pouring down my face as my friends wife was presented with a flag. I will go to my grave with the sound of her sob and cry.
Maybe if the President and Tony Snow went to JUST ONE funeral they would find a different word than "numbers."