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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPhysicians' Joint Report: At Least 1.3 Million Lives Lost to US-Led War on Terror
3/26/15
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How do you calculate the human costs of the U.S.-led War on Terror?
On the 12th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, groups of physicians attempted to arrive at a partial answer to this question by counting the dead.
In their joint report Body Count: Casualty Figures after 10 Years of the 'War on TerrorPhysicians for Social Responsibility, Physicians for Global Survival, and the Nobel Prize-winning International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War concluded that this number is staggering, with at least 1.3 million lives lost in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan alone since the onset of the war following September 11, 2001.
However, the report notes, this is a conservative estimate, and the total number killed in the three countries "could also be in excess of 2 million, whereas a figure below 1 million is extremely unlikely."
Furthermore, the researchers do not look at other countries targeted by U.S.-led war, including Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Syria, and beyond.
Even still, the report states the figure "is approximately 10 times greater than that of which the public, experts and decision makers are aware of and propagated by the media and major NGOs.
In Iraq, at least 1 million lives have been lost during and since 2003, a figure that accounts for five percent of the nation's total population. This does not include deaths among the estimated 3 million Iraqi refugees, many of whom were subject to dangerous conditions during this past winter.
Furthermore, an estimated 220,000 people have been killed in Afghanistan and 80,000 in Pakistan, note the researchers. The findings follow a United Nations report which finds that civilian deaths in Afghanistan in 2014 were at their highest levels since the global body began making reports in 2009....
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/03/26/body-count-report-reveals-least-13-million-lives-lost-us-led-war-terror
newfie11
(8,159 posts)This was/is outright murder still going on today. Bush and buds got to swagger around looking proud of themselves while innocents died/still die horrible deaths.
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)newfie11
(8,159 posts)Sadly there's no end insight.
Renew Deal
(81,802 posts)that.
Same with those saying things like that today. The fact is that if Gore was president, many of these things wouldn't have happened.
F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)If only the left hadnt cast protest votes for Nader -- believing that theres no difference between Bush and Gore -- wed have won the election! We still see this uninformed appeal to emotion, even on DU:GD discussions. It requires one to ignore the fact that Gore did win the vote in Florida, and the republican party/ US Supreme Court stole the election. This was very well documented in Vincent Bugliosis The Betrayal of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and Chose Our President (Thunders Mouth Press; 2001).
To blame the eventual outcome of that election on the left -- some of whom did vote for Nader -- makes as much sense as blaming the elderly Floridians who, confused by the butterfly ballot, cast votes for Patrick Buchanan. More, it ignores an important reality -- one documented in Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.s Journals: 1952 - 2000 (Penguin; 2007): a good many of the establishment Democrats voted for George W. Bush. The reason? Some disliked Al Gore for creating distance between himself and Bill Clinton, while others despised his choice for vice president.
Still, Al Gore won the 2000 presidential election. Any and all blame goes to the Supreme Court.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026420812
Renew Deal
(81,802 posts)Good. You should
F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)But, you know, assumptions.
Karmadillo
(9,253 posts)the election should think about that, too.
http://disinfo.com/2010/11/debunked-the-myth-that-ralph-nader-cost-al-gore-the-2000-election/
Debunked: The Myth That Ralph Nader Cost Al Gore the 2000 Election
<edit>
So, why do Democrats continue to focus blame Nader and the Greens? Its certainly easier to vent ones frustrations upon someone weaker than you than it is to confront powerful, corrupt institutions and a dysfunctional system. And its even more attractive if one is part of that system, and if the weaker party could conceivably become a threat to ones own power some day.
more...
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Lame.
malaise
(267,828 posts)We are mass murderers on steroids
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)And our war for oil & defense industry profits is creating people who hate US, rightfully so, so what our govt & media call the "War on Terror" should be called the "War FOR Terror (& Profit)."
RedCappedBandit
(5,514 posts)nomorenomore08
(13,324 posts)phantom power
(25,966 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)samsingh
(17,571 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Obama has scaled down the US wars, but certainly not ended them.
And he's droned way more people than Bush.
Somalia, Nigeria, Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan. We've been very, very busy.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)The "ruling elite" are addicted to genocide, century after century, millennia after millennia.
Madmiddle
(459 posts)do ya think that they believe us when we say, "Our representatives are in charge" when they see us sitting home, when we could be out voting. Should be voting. All of us. I'm not saying you don't vote, but we are all to blame in our form of government.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)his "I'm from the govt and I'm here to help you" spiel. They have done this on purpose to get people not to vote. Check out Paul Weyrich, founder of ALEC:
https://m.
PS. I VOTE!
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)And this doesn't even account for the gulf war in the early 90s and the disgraceful sanctions throughout that decade and the hundreds of thousands of people who died then.
Who is going to claim that "We Think the Price Is Worth It", a la Madeleine Albright? Will it be H Clinton or Kerry this time?
For those who don't know that reference:
Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, thats more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: I think this is a very hard choice, but the pricewe think the price is worth it.
60 Minutes (5/12/96)
Ugh. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)This is my guess
Madmiddle
(459 posts)but we should expect the rest of the world will not like this bullying, our representatives do in our name. I would not doubt the USA being driven off the high horse. Don't know when, but we should expect it.
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)We are the bad guys now to the world. Its just a matter of time.
A few years ago I met a really interesting man from Iran. He'd immigrated to the US and was successful in business. Mid-30s. He called himself "Persian" when I first asked about his accent. That's what they say to try not to be immediately discriminated against by stupid Americans.
Anyways, when I showed I knew this meant Iranian & didn't care & was interested in what his home country is like, he told me many stories about growing up in Iran. It's not that different from here. Its a modern society with pop culture & entrepreneurs & citizens who have dreams & want a better world...I realized then that the people of a nation should NEVER be judged by their idiotic gov't leaders.
I hope others in the world are somehow able to not judge all Americans by the Neocons in charge here.
mountain grammy
(26,571 posts)most Americans don't care, and the proof is voter turnout. The majority of voters are staying home, and the majority of those who vote are electing war mongers.
The polls may say most Americans want peace, but they won't stand up for it or vote for it. DU and others like us, are islands of sanity floating in a sea of disengaged citizens who are willing to concede governing to religious and radical elected officials who are, little by little, destroying everything good about Americal
Renew Deal
(81,802 posts)Though I doubt he cared.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)We are ruled by criminals.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)You know, "Party Loyalty", "Not as bad", "Lesser of two evils", "This time it will be different" and "Practical Politics".
What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy? Gandhi
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)then I am very proud to be impractical.
F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)This can't be said enough.
F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)It, along with our unbelievably racist and broken "justice" system, global warming, and our oppressive financial system are the biggest issues we face today. I will not support a politician that will not speak out on ALL of these topics.
If they refuse to speak against the MIC, then they prop up a massive machine that literally feeds on human life, delivering profits to contractors, oil companies, and all sorts of the villainous elite.
I will not support them.
If they refuse to speak out for environmentalists and pursue strong changes in our energy policies and regulations, they are condemning us all (and in particular those who are young and will still be alive when the shit really hits the fan, like me) to a slow and miserable death.
I will not support them.
If they refuse to to speak out against a justice system that is clearly oppressive, if they refuse to fund education and social programs, then they sentence my minority brothers and sisters to be thrown away as trash.
I will not support them.
.
.
.
1.3+ million dead. Countless lives traumatized, injured, disabled, removed, all in the name of profit and glorious nationalism.
I can't.
I won't.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)we call elections.
johnnyreb
(915 posts)MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)that blowing lots of stuff up could kill lots of people?
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts)A fat military isn't the solution, it's the problem.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)K&R