Sunday, November 1, 2009

This Week's American Casualties in Obama's Wars

Beginning this week, Progressive Alaska will start honoring our most recently killed Service Men and Women killed in the past seven days of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Army SPC Eric N Lembke, 25, of Tampa, FL
Army PFC Kimble A Han, 30, of Lehi, UT
Marine Cpl Gregory MW Fleury, 23, of Anchorage, AK
Marine Capt Eric A Jones, 29, of Westchester, NY
Marine Capt David S Mitchell, 30, of Loveland, OH
Marine Capt Kyle R Van De Giesen, 29, of North Attleboro, MA
Army SGT Eduviges G Wolf, 24, of Hawthorne, CA
Army PFC Devin J Michel, 19, of Stockton, IL
Army SPC Brandon K Steffey, 23, of Sault Sainte Marie, MI
Marine LCpl Cody R Stanley, 21, of Rosanky, TX
Army SSG Luis M Gonzalez, 27, of South Ozone Park, NY
Army SGT Fernando Delarosa, 24, of Alamo, TX
Army SGT Dale R Griffin, 29, of Terre Haute, IN
Army SGT Issac B Jackson, 27, of Plattsburg, MO
Army SGT Patrick O Williamson, 24, of Broussard, LA
Army SPC Jared D Stanker, 22, of Evergreen Park, IL
Army PFC Christopher I Walz, 25, of Vancouver, WA
Army CWO Michael P Montgomery, 36, of Savannah, GA
Army CWO Niall Lyons, 40, of Spokane, WA
Army SSG Shawn H McNabb, 24, of Terrell, TX
Army SGT Josue E Hernandez Chavez, 23, of Reno, NV
Army SGT Nikolas A Mueller, 26, of Little Chute, WI
Army SFC David E Metzger, 32, of San Diego, CA
Army SSG Keith R Bishop, 28, of Medford, NY
Army SCP Robert K Charlton, 22, of Malden, MO

This week's casualties bring the total number of allied servicemembers killed in Iraq to 4,673; in Afghanistan, 1,502. During the same period, Iraq Body Count lists 69 Iraqi civilians killed.

October, 2009 was the deadliest month for US forces in Afghanistan since the beginning of the invasion.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting this. We should always remember the sacrifice of our fallen.

Wolfe Tone said...

Phil,

Thanks for posting this, I agree with Anon @ 3:51 am.

Still, calling them "Obama's Wars" somehow bothers me a bit.

While the president has made it clear that he has assumed ownership and therefore responsibility, calling them "Obama's" almost seems to relieve the prior administration of any culpability.

You're right though, they're certainly Obama's wars now.

Philip Munger said...

Wolfe Tone,

Although Obama has now kept us safe from terrorist attacks inside our country for 59 days longer than did George Bush, they are now - particularly because he is expanding one of them and refuses to stop many unconstitutional or internationally illegal practices of his predecessor - HIS WARS.

100%

KaJo said...

Maybe calling the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan "Wars Our Elected Representatives Voted On and Approved" would be more accurate although less euphonious or catchy -- that way we are all responsible.

And we are -- what did most of us do -- or not do -- to change votes of our elected Representatives and Senators to resist more warmongering, back between 2003 and 2008?

Anonymous said...

Calling them Obama's Wars bothers me also too.

RoseMontague

Philip Munger said...

When Franklin Roosevelt died, WWII became Truman's war.

On January 20, 1953, the Korean War became Eisenhower's war.

When Kennedy was assassinated, Vietnam became Johnson's war.

On January 20, 1969, Vietnam became Nixon's war.

On January 20, 1993, the continued bombing war of Iraq became Clinton's war.

On January 20, 2001, the continued bombing of Iraq became Bush II's war.

On January 20, 2009, the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan became Obama's wars.

Seems pretty straightforward to me.

Anonymous said...

I have to wonder why all the right to lifers aren't 'up in arms' (pardon the irony) over the death and destruction wreaked on the innocent of OTHER countries, we don't belong in...or WHY the military sends mothers to kill other peoples children, and WHY do we stand for it...at this point in our evolutionary growth, WHY is ANY resource, life, or country subjected to the absolute insanity of war, anytime, anyplace...surely we've developed SOME sense of what's right...at any rate, Afghanistan will not succumb to our empire, ever, good grief, look at the hilly mountainous terrain, WAY too many places to attack from...so advocate for withdrawal in this and all colonial, nation-building pursuits so we can finally fearlessly live in peace (each to his own)...the big challenge will be trying to withstand and survive the elements affected with global climate change, not to mention, homelessness, hunger, rotten infrastructure, ignorance, lying leaders... that are REAL!

Anonymous said...

I believe that Obama realizes our responsibility in Iraq and Afghanistan go beyond just saving American lives. There are many innocent lives at stake if we pull out before security is assured for those that have supported us over there. I am sure he wants us out as quickly as possible and I am certain he understands the high cost we are paying for these wars in terms of our soldiers lives.
It sounds simple and easy to say why don't we just leave and go home. I pray that our President can find a solution that will save as many innocent lives as possible, both American and foreign, both now and in the future.
As far as this being Obama's War, that to me implies that he is somehow to blame for it. I understand Philip's point. However, I don't think Clinton's War is a good name either, and calling any war by a name of a President that didn't start that war goes too far in the rhetoric category, in my opinion.

RoseMontague

Irene said...

They are not "Obama's Wars" they are "Our Wars".

Anonymous said...

They are now OBAMA'S. I now consider Obama the war criminal president. He is choosing to TORTURE and RENDITION people. Fuck Obama. The only time I defend him is against those rabid teabaggers who say he's too liberal.

Pulling out immediately from Iraq and Afghanistan would not cause any more problems than if we pulled out in 6 months, 6 years or 60 years...