The Irony of 911: George Bush Has Done More Harm to the U.S.A. Than Has Osama Bin Laden
I have been posting on this theme at least twice a year. But this time, doing the simple arithmetic paints a very ugly picture.
Now that he has a full half a dozen years to drive America to wreck and ruin, the truth is incontrovertible: George Bush's illegal, un-provoked, unnecessary, and largely unilateral invasion and unplanned occupation of Iraq has cost our nation more in blood and treasure than Osama bin Laden.
First, contrast the bloodshed by al Qaeda in America six years ago today with the sacrifices of our troops in Iraq, beginning on 20 March 2003 through today.
OBL: Total Deaths - All 9/11 Attacks: 3,030
OBL: Total Injuries - All 9/11 Attacks: 2,337
GWB: Total US KIA in Iraq: 3,774
GWB: Total U.S. WIA in Iraq: 12,746
It's important to note that the figure that I use for WIA in Iraq is not the total wounded servicemen and service; the statistic I use indicates just those wounds which were so severe that the soldier was not returned to combat. Many of those, of course, are life-altering injuries (loss of sight, loss of limbs, brain, neurological and internal organ injuries).
What I failed to consider when I initially posted this graphic months ago, is that it can be argued - as I vehemently have argued - that massive American retaliation against Afghanistan was not only justified by the 9-11 attacks, but mandated. Therefore, our costs sustained in Operation Enduring Freedom are costs which are directly attributable to the 9-11 attacks against us. Therefore, they should be added to the lives lost in the crash of four airliners on 9-11-01.
In Afghanistan, we have lost 372 KIA in the six years beginning in the last couple of months of 2001. That comes to about 62 a year. So, adding Afghanistan's 372 to Osama's toll, we derive an al-Qaeda total of 3,402. One more thing: since the Republicans want to extend Bush's current splurge through 2008, it is only appropriate that we project past and present casualty trends into that future election year. So, counting our Afghanistan sacrifices, Bush is currently pushing through his break-even point with Osama bin Laden.
As you can see, adding 372 U.S. KIA Afghanistan to the al-Qaeda side of the ledger materially strengthens my contention that George Bush has cost America more in blood than has Osama bin Laden.
That's especially true when you remember economists predict that care for our wounded will amount to an unbelievable $2.5 trillion for generations to come.
On the financial ledger, the Department of Defense has not provided Congress with the individual costs of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) as opposed to Operation Iraqi Liberation. But the estimated disparity in costs is apparent to us, as a glimpse at the chart to the right reveals.
The financial losses due to the four airliners' attacks on 9-11, estimated up to $ 40 billion, do not begin to make up the difference. (Costs of economic recovery from 9-11, are generally accepted as being less than those of Katrina.)
Let's add to the ledger, that as a result of Bush's reckless adventure in Iraq,
our military is stretched to the breaking point. Finally, of penultimate importance to our global war on terror, would be an international consensus on how to wage it. Al Qaeda's 2001 attacks on New York and Washington gave us an overwhelming groundswell of sympathy throughout the world. By the time Bush mobilized for his unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Iraq 4½ years ago, he had squandered that foundation of support. In fact, Bush's war was the first war in history to garner world-wide demonstrations against it on the day before his invasion of Iraq began.
It is George W. Bush, who has put the biggest hurt on Americans, in squandering our blood, our economic resources, our military assets, and our international esteem.
Now that he has a full half a dozen years to drive America to wreck and ruin, the truth is incontrovertible: George Bush's illegal, un-provoked, unnecessary, and largely unilateral invasion and unplanned occupation of Iraq has cost our nation more in blood and treasure than Osama bin Laden.
First, contrast the bloodshed by al Qaeda in America six years ago today with the sacrifices of our troops in Iraq, beginning on 20 March 2003 through today.
OBL: Total Deaths - All 9/11 Attacks: 3,030OBL: Total Injuries - All 9/11 Attacks: 2,337
GWB: Total US KIA in Iraq: 3,774
GWB: Total U.S. WIA in Iraq: 12,746
It's important to note that the figure that I use for WIA in Iraq is not the total wounded servicemen and service; the statistic I use indicates just those wounds which were so severe that the soldier was not returned to combat. Many of those, of course, are life-altering injuries (loss of sight, loss of limbs, brain, neurological and internal organ injuries).
What I failed to consider when I initially posted this graphic months ago, is that it can be argued - as I vehemently have argued - that massive American retaliation against Afghanistan was not only justified by the 9-11 attacks, but mandated. Therefore, our costs sustained in Operation Enduring Freedom are costs which are directly attributable to the 9-11 attacks against us. Therefore, they should be added to the lives lost in the crash of four airliners on 9-11-01.
In Afghanistan, we have lost 372 KIA in the six years beginning in the last couple of months of 2001. That comes to about 62 a year. So, adding Afghanistan's 372 to Osama's toll, we derive an al-Qaeda total of 3,402. One more thing: since the Republicans want to extend Bush's current splurge through 2008, it is only appropriate that we project past and present casualty trends into that future election year. So, counting our Afghanistan sacrifices, Bush is currently pushing through his break-even point with Osama bin Laden.
As you can see, adding 372 U.S. KIA Afghanistan to the al-Qaeda side of the ledger materially strengthens my contention that George Bush has cost America more in blood than has Osama bin Laden.That's especially true when you remember economists predict that care for our wounded will amount to an unbelievable $2.5 trillion for generations to come.
On the financial ledger, the Department of Defense has not provided Congress with the individual costs of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) as opposed to Operation Iraqi Liberation. But the estimated disparity in costs is apparent to us, as a glimpse at the chart to the right reveals.The financial losses due to the four airliners' attacks on 9-11, estimated up to $ 40 billion, do not begin to make up the difference. (Costs of economic recovery from 9-11, are generally accepted as being less than those of Katrina.)
Let's add to the ledger, that as a result of Bush's reckless adventure in Iraq,
our military is stretched to the breaking point. Finally, of penultimate importance to our global war on terror, would be an international consensus on how to wage it. Al Qaeda's 2001 attacks on New York and Washington gave us an overwhelming groundswell of sympathy throughout the world. By the time Bush mobilized for his unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Iraq 4½ years ago, he had squandered that foundation of support. In fact, Bush's war was the first war in history to garner world-wide demonstrations against it on the day before his invasion of Iraq began.It is George W. Bush, who has put the biggest hurt on Americans, in squandering our blood, our economic resources, our military assets, and our international esteem.
posted by Vigilante at 9/11/2007 12:25:00 AM
7 Moderated Comments:
That's especially true when you remember economists predict that care for our wounded will amount to an unbelievable $2.5 trillion for generations to come.
I'm not getting any healthcare from the VA system because I don't need it but I know several who do, one Korea and one Vietnam vet off the top of my head, who tell me that they are being not so gently pushed out due to how the VA system is being over strectched. So if you add the vets from other wars 2.5 trillion might still be an underestimate.
I appreciate the graphics, and body count, the ridiculous money figures etc. Vigilante, but I am afraid there is a larger point here that is being lost.
THE 'WAR' HAS BEEN DONE TO A PURPOSE. THAT PURPOSE WAS TO MAKE MONEY FOR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, AND THAT IS THE PROGRAM THAT IS DRIVEN BY OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Congress and others.
So you are barking up the wrong tree.
The economy up until just recently has been resonating and dripping with money making.
Bush has fueled and kept alive our failing economy which must grow grow grow, or collapse.
I am sorry but you are missing the boat here as to the big picture.
The war on Terror so called is only an element of our thug society that is really a criminal organization, and against the best interests of the American people.
Much as Mad Mike confuses occupation with a war, you are confusing the occupation as not a logical extension of business as usual,(globalism) with a corrupt system, that no longer will work in the future, and is hell bent through stupidity to kill us all... for dollar business.
Vigilante what is happening with Bush, and the Congress is not an anomaly. It is America.
Bush or Hillary, it will not make any difference.
Growth is the name of the game and 'endless scam war' is the main ingredient in this type of system.
And it's only going to get worse.
After the biggest series of pre-war demonstrations on February 15, 2003, New York Times writer Patrick Tyler claimed that they proved that
There were two superpowers on the planet, the United States and worldwide public opinion.
Yes, M.D., it is only going to get worse. In the years to come we can all mark the passage of the seasons on the Iraq Perpetual Calendar you have provided your readers.
I agree with all of you: it's only going to get worse. Over one million Iraqis died as, I believe, America's military involvement in Iraq. Also, add 3,800 dead and 27,000+ wounded soldiers to the carnage. And can we even believe these statistics?
About the VA, beachbum: Bush slashed the veterans' benefits budget for six years in a row. (I read the annual federal budget.) So much for troop support. Did the money go to private contractors such as Halliburton, ESS, and Blackwater, among many others? Clearly, the VA is over-stretched:
the money that should be spent on our veterans' medical care is going to...?
And still congress sits on it's collective ass and still we have a semi-moron inhabiting the Oval Office.
This entire administration should be removed for reasons relating to treasonous actions.
Still congress holds it's breath...hoping for reelection to their cushy do-nothing jobs instead of impeaching and charging this idiot and his cronies for the crimes they have committed.
JMT
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