Spring Break
Stop-Loss Protest Unpersuasive, Futile
Rob Casapulla
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Commentary
So the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War came and was marked by protests, like the one above demanding what the anti-war movement considers to be an "unjust and unnecessary war for oil" to be ended. After the fifth anniversary of the war was marked, the number of U.S. dead in Iraq reached 4,000. Each life lost was a brave sacrifice given for all of us who can remain back here at home. The sacrifices of these soldiers illustrate how the War in Iraq is progressing, despite what liberals would have us believe.
To put the Iraq war into perspective - in the 17-year span American troops were in Vietnam 58,000 soldiers were killed. If the War in Iraq continues at its current pace and we are in Iraq for another 12 years 14,000 American soldiers will have died in a 17-year war, that is less than a quarter of the troops lost in Vietnam. We lost 4,900 American soldiers in the Normandy invasion of D-Day. Each year in America approximately 7,600 people die from "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs." For those of you not following, this means almost twice as many people die every year in the United States from aspirin or ibuprofen than have died in the five years we have been in Iraq.
I don't know how else to say this - 4,000 dead in five years in Iraq does not mean we are losing the war, however this is just about the only thing liberals have to complain about. Granted they complain about everything but they've always done that. Before the war started we were hearing about how Iraq would be worse than Vietnam, with more American soldiers killed in urban guerilla warfare, than had been lost in jungle guerilla warfare. Then as we "rushed to war" for 14 months we had to sit through the liberals' blathering about how it was unjust and unnecessary and we should have gone into North Korea. Once the war started liberals blamed U.S. troops for interrupting the lives of the kite-flying children in Iraq, at the same time they were instantly angry that a new Iraqi government had not taken control of their own country. As the Iraqis were holding elections we heard from the liberals about how democracy was incompatible with the Middle East. Now we hear complaints about how every area in Iraq doesn't have consistent electricity, when a vast majority of these areas had not enjoyed electricity for at least five years before the fall of Hussein.
To put the Iraq war into perspective - in the 17-year span American troops were in Vietnam 58,000 soldiers were killed. If the War in Iraq continues at its current pace and we are in Iraq for another 12 years 14,000 American soldiers will have died in a 17-year war, that is less than a quarter of the troops lost in Vietnam. We lost 4,900 American soldiers in the Normandy invasion of D-Day. Each year in America approximately 7,600 people die from "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs." For those of you not following, this means almost twice as many people die every year in the United States from aspirin or ibuprofen than have died in the five years we have been in Iraq.
I don't know how else to say this - 4,000 dead in five years in Iraq does not mean we are losing the war, however this is just about the only thing liberals have to complain about. Granted they complain about everything but they've always done that. Before the war started we were hearing about how Iraq would be worse than Vietnam, with more American soldiers killed in urban guerilla warfare, than had been lost in jungle guerilla warfare. Then as we "rushed to war" for 14 months we had to sit through the liberals' blathering about how it was unjust and unnecessary and we should have gone into North Korea. Once the war started liberals blamed U.S. troops for interrupting the lives of the kite-flying children in Iraq, at the same time they were instantly angry that a new Iraqi government had not taken control of their own country. As the Iraqis were holding elections we heard from the liberals about how democracy was incompatible with the Middle East. Now we hear complaints about how every area in Iraq doesn't have consistent electricity, when a vast majority of these areas had not enjoyed electricity for at least five years before the fall of Hussein.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 9
Dan
posted 3/31/08 @ 9:49 AM EST
I don't see any reason to attack Cindy Sheehan. Maybe if she had been at a protest or done anything at all this year there would be a point. But to call her an "old bat" ad make other insulting comments about her isn't smart or funny just degrading to yourself. (Continued…)
Independent Conservative
posted 3/31/08 @ 9:50 AM EST
Some comments:
1)True, there have "only" been 4000 deaths in 5 years, however, there have been roughly 30,000 injured soldiers, many of them having sustained horrific injuries that if it were not for modern medical technology would have been deaths. (Continued…)
Joe
posted 3/31/08 @ 11:39 AM EST
The movie is demonstrating that there is a back door draft. Throwing in the purpose of invading Iraq and ranting about liberals is irrelevant. Once again Rob Casapulla gives the daily campus another poorly written article consisting of flawed logic and non sequiturs. (Continued…)
Kaitlyn N.
posted 3/31/08 @ 12:05 PM EST
Just a little clarification:
The Students for a Democratic Society's "Funk the War" protest happened the week after the "Our Spring Break" Stop-Loss Congress initiative, and while many of the participants were the same from UConn, the two events each had their own purpose and mandate. (Continued…)
KH
posted 3/31/08 @ 1:10 PM EST
Yeah, he does seem to be saying "We shouldn't leave until there's enough dead troops!". Of course, that's just because he couldn't write his way out of a paper bag. (Continued…)
Independent Conservative
posted 3/31/08 @ 2:18 PM EST
What's up Casapulla, are you or are you not going to ENLIST?
Thomas Ruyle
posted 5/11/08 @ 6:36 AM EST
Obviously, Mr. Casapulla, you have never served in the US Armed Forces. You know nothing of serving in the military, going through basic training, serving, going to Iraq, or losing friends in combat. (Continued…)
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