Full Version: Casualties
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We have heard a lot about the Americans and British troops killed in the war, either accidentally or in combat. We also hear about members of the media who were killed or injured.
Now, until I retired I was both an Air Force Officer and a reporter (but not at the same time). I had more than my share of combat including the scary opportunity to take out two VC with my knife.
Now, I know that, in combat, in populated areas there are lots of casualties among non-combatants. I am sure I caused some and I saw enough to last a lifetime but I notice that in this war, I have seen hardly any. Maybe one or two, lying along a road and it was not sure how they died or who did it. But with the heavy bombing that occurred over Baghdad, I would have expected to see bodies all over the place.
Where were they? Were they picked up quickly before the cameras arrived or were cameras prevented from going where they were?
Now, US television coverage does not include pictures of the dead. I understand that you can see bodies in the coverage given by Arab news units.
Believe me, I don't want to see bodies but any reasonable person will admit, in war, there are fatalities on both sides. Where are the Arab fatalities?
We have heard a lot about the Americans and British troops killed in the war, either accidentally or in combat. We also hear about members of the media who were killed or injured.
Now, until I retired I was both an Air Force Officer and a reporter (but not at the same time). I had more than my share of combat including the scary opportunity to take out two VC with my knife.
Now, I know that, in combat, in populated areas there are lots of casualties among non-combatants. I am sure I caused some and I saw enough to last a lifetime but I notice that in this war, I have seen hardly any. Maybe one or two, lying along a road and it was not sure how they died or who did it. But with the heavy bombing that occurred over Baghdad, I would have expected to see bodies all over the place.
Where were they? Were they picked up quickly before the cameras arrived or were cameras prevented from going where they were?
Now, US television coverage does not include pictures of the dead. I understand that you can see bodies in the coverage given by Arab news units.
Believe me, I don't want to see bodies but any reasonable person will admit, in war, there are fatalities on both sides. Where are the Arab fatalities?
It is curious.
The camera atop the Information Building in Baghdad (the one you see those landscape shots of Baghdad from) is an Arab-run camera, not Al-Jazeera, but another network. Can't run down who owns it on the web, but I remember Fox or ABC saying that camera was Arab owned.
By the way, fewer than 25 American deaths have been reported. Over 2,000 Iraqis have been captured (or surrendered). Not bad after almost a week of fighting.
I would think any massacres of civilians would be broadcast on Iraqi TV.
Which brings up another question...why hasn't the US shut down the Iraqi TV station (i.e. bombed it). They control the radio, you would think more Iraqi would listen to the radio if the TV were unavailable.
The camera atop the Information Building in Baghdad (the one you see those landscape shots of Baghdad from) is an Arab-run camera, not Al-Jazeera, but another network. Can't run down who owns it on the web, but I remember Fox or ABC saying that camera was Arab owned.
By the way, fewer than 25 American deaths have been reported. Over 2,000 Iraqis have been captured (or surrendered). Not bad after almost a week of fighting.
I would think any massacres of civilians would be broadcast on Iraqi TV.
Which brings up another question...why hasn't the US shut down the Iraqi TV station (i.e. bombed it). They control the radio, you would think more Iraqi would listen to the radio if the TV were unavailable.
Its about time someone put up a scoreboard...(sorry, shouldn't have said that...)
But what about Iraqi military? I think that would be more significant, by comparing military to civilian casualties...to show how surgical the Coalition attacks are...
But what about Iraqi military? I think that would be more significant, by comparing military to civilian casualties...to show how surgical the Coalition attacks are...
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