The number of US troops killed in Iraq has reached 3,000 since the war began in 2003 following the death of a soldier.
Special Dustin R Donica, 22, from Spring in Texas, was killed by small arms fire, the Pentagon has confirmed.
The grim milestone was crossed on the final day of 2006 and at the end of the deadliest month for the American military in Iraq in the past 12 months.
At least 111 US service members are reported to have died throughout December.
Spc Donica was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
The announcement of his death follows another earlier of a US soldier killed when a roadside bomb struck his patrol in southeastern Baghdad.
President George Bush is under pressure to present a timetable for the withdrawal of troops.
His critics claim they are being bogged down in Iraq.
A spokesman for Mr Bush said: "The President believes that every life is precious and grieves for each one that is lost. He will ensure their sacrifice was not made in vain."
The President has spent much of the holiday period consulting his closest aides and has promised to announce a new direction in Iraq early in the New Year.
Hundreds of Iraqis are killed every week in sectarian violence which is threatening to pitch Iraq into full-scale civil war.
A toll of 3,000 US dead is likely to be an emotive one for Americans.
But it is less than the number of Iraqi civilians killed in a typical single month in the latter part of 2006, according to the UN.
Comment:
3000 dead US soldiers before the new year, how many more will die in 2007? Over 3000 Muslim civilians die every month , thus far over 100 000 have been killed and millions wounded and mentally scarred.
This is the reality and price countries pay when the US and its allies decide to invade and occupy in the war on so called terror. Is the violence and deaths reducing? Can anyone see an end to this bloodshed? Is there an alternative to US imposed sham Democracy? Dont ask Bush or Blair they dont have a clue.
Does everyone really think that if the US leaves all of the violence in Iraq would just stop?
You are out of your minds if you think so! You should thank your lucky stars the US is there because otherwise what is happening there would spill over into the neighboring countries. Personally I wish the US would get out just to prove the point that the people over there are brutal uneducated people that are 3000 years behind the rest of the world. Really the US should just go to full scale war with Iraq use the air, water and whatever else and destroy all of these people. They are unfit for the world around them, but somehow find a way to make it everyone elses fault
Really the US should just go to full scale war with Iraq use the air, water and whatever else and destroy all of these people. They are unfit for the world around them, but somehow find a way to make it everyone elses fault
If memory serves, God tried that with the great deluge (story of Noah's Ark).
It didn't make all that much of a difference now, did it? Why?
It wasnt a tolerant or peaceful comment. I consider myself to be a tolerant and peaceful man but everyday more and more I think that these people in Iraq are past the point of no return. No matter what happens that country is doomed for a long time. Soon (within the next 2 years) the US will begin pulling out troops and within 4 years i would bet all of the troops will be out of Iraq. But then what? The country will be taken by guerrillas, the people will end up more oppressed and as I said before this will spill over into other countries. It is sad but true, and there is no way to stop it.
I hate to make comments like "Personally I wish the US would get out just to prove the point that the people over there are brutal uneducated people that are 3000 years behind the rest of the world. Really the US should just go to full scale war with Iraq use the air, water and whatever else and destroy all of these people. They are unfit for the world around them, but somehow find a way to make it everyone elses fault". It makes me sound to some exactly like the people I am talking about, for this I apologize. But at the same time, what do you do? Keep fighting people that hide behind the civilians or just say you are with us or against us and make it a real war? Either way a lot of innocent people are going to die and it is going to cause a lot of crisis. Very very sad
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
I think another thing to consider is the experiences in other countries mired in sectarian conflict. The situation in Kosovo is a good example. There are around 30,000 U.S. troops stationed there, but not one U.S. soldier has been killed or even been fired upon. The obvious question is why. I believe it is because the people involved in that conflict were politically separated into their ethnic groups, but all having representative power in the government. I've gone back and forth on the breaking up Iraq into ethnic provinces debare, but more and more it is looking like this is the best option. At least in the short term.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
its there own fault, they shouldnt of been der in the first place...Should of gone for another career.. why u choose the army.. thats what happens in war.. soldiers die..and what did they die for..
hola khalil27,
i have a different opinion on war and the iraq war than my husband but i would never publicly disagree with him or cause him embarassment like that... i think even though my opinions have not changed on this (i do not believe his have either), but i have learned that something i was wrong about is that soldiers choose the army... some feel compelled to do it for many reasons... i do not think what you are saying is fair...
i have a different opinion on war and the iraq war than my husband but i would never publicly disagree with him or cause him embarassment like that... i think even though my opinions have not changed on this (i do not believe his have either), but i have learned that something i was wrong about is that soldiers choose the army... some feel compelled to do it for many reasons... i do not think what you are saying is fair...
Dios te bendiga
Most soldiers join the military for the best of reasons, which is to serve their country. The politics behind any decision to send the military into war become secondary to a soldier. There is a brotherhood among soldiers, especially those who volunteer for service, which is why so many soldiers return to the battlefield when they aren't forced to do so. Being there with a soldier's particular unit during a time of war is very important to a soldier. The decisions made by a civilian leadership are secondary compared to the need to be with one's brothers on the battlefield. That is what soldiers are trained to do, fight and take care of one another.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
Most soldiers join the military for the best of reasons, which is to serve their country. The politics behind any decision to send the military into war become secondary to a soldier. There is a brotherhood among soldiers, especially those who volunteer for service, which is why so many soldiers return to the battlefield when they aren't forced to do so. Being there with a soldier's particular unit during a time of war is very important to a soldier. The decisions made by a civilian leadership are secondary compared to the need to be with one's brothers on the battlefield. That is what soldiers are trained to do, fight and take care of one another.
hola Keltoi,
this was not what i meant... i think my husband does feel very loyal to the air force but he feels that by being in the military he is taking care of us... his wife and daughters... i think it is one part of his outlook on politics and many other things, he wants us to live in a safe and good environment...
this was not what i meant... i think my husband does feel very loyal to the air force but he feels that by being in the military he is taking care of us... his wife and daughters... i think it is one part of his outlook on politics and many other things, he wants us to live in a safe and good environment...
Dios te bendiga
I understand what you mean. I suppose my outlook is more tilted to the infantry experience, with the whole brotherhood mindset. No doubt many men and women join the military to protect their family and their way of life, and that is as good of a reason as any.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
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