The untold story
The Washington Post reports that "U.S. battlefield casualties in Iraq are increasing dramatically in the face of continued attacks by remnants of Saddam Hussein's military and other forces..." The Post says that the Pentagon reports that the number of American soldiers wounded in action totals 1124, a figure "...more than twice that of the Persian Gulf War in 1991." Because many of the attacks are rocket propelled grenades and explosive devices, a large percentage of these casualties are amputees. But, as the Post notes, "Although Central Command keeps a running total of the wounded, it releases the number only when asked -- making the combat injuries of U.S. troops in Iraq one of the untold stories of the war."
Even the number of wounded probably understates the true cost in American lives permanently impaired by the war. The Post reports a larger picture: "Since the war began, more than 6,000 service members have been flown back to the United States.The number includes the 1,124 wounded in action, 301 who received non-hostile injuries in vehicle accidents and other mishaps, and thousands who became physically or mentally ill." Read the entire article.
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