morbid
So it turns out that minorities are not overrepresented among the caulaties in Iraq.
Just as statistics would suggest--they represent approximately the same percentage of casualties as they are proportionately represented in the total population.
ie, Hispanic or Latino is approx 12 % of the current US population---181 of the 1539 Iraq casualties are Hispanic. (11.39%) Same with Black or African American 175 or 11.01%.
I say this to point out that our all volunteer Armed forces "look like America." It isn't made up of any one group disproportionately, it is comprised of some of the best from every sub-group--think about it the next time Charlie Rangel or Al Sharpton cry out about racial inequality in the Armed forces. It is an affront to all of the 1589 who have perished.
I won't mention Vietnam, but the same was true then (even though the modern day mythology held that blacks were disproportionately represented among the war dead.) Again, exactly like the statistical laws of averages would suggest.
One more thing...the next time someone suggests that Iraq is another Vietnam--remember that 58,000 American soldiers died in Vietnam.
Just as statistics would suggest--they represent approximately the same percentage of casualties as they are proportionately represented in the total population.
ie, Hispanic or Latino is approx 12 % of the current US population---181 of the 1539 Iraq casualties are Hispanic. (11.39%) Same with Black or African American 175 or 11.01%.
I say this to point out that our all volunteer Armed forces "look like America." It isn't made up of any one group disproportionately, it is comprised of some of the best from every sub-group--think about it the next time Charlie Rangel or Al Sharpton cry out about racial inequality in the Armed forces. It is an affront to all of the 1589 who have perished.
I won't mention Vietnam, but the same was true then (even though the modern day mythology held that blacks were disproportionately represented among the war dead.) Again, exactly like the statistical laws of averages would suggest.
One more thing...the next time someone suggests that Iraq is another Vietnam--remember that 58,000 American soldiers died in Vietnam.
posted by djobe at 8:16 AM
1 Comments:
Darin,
Since you made the post, which I find good and interesting, do you think the same amount of troops would die in Iraq over a course of 13 years, if medicine and life saving abilities were in the same state of technology as it was in the 1960's & 70's?
Do you think Iraq combat will last 13 years...more or less? The rate of an US soldier dying to one being injured not returning to duty within 72 hours (SOD definitions) is almost 7:1. In Vietnam, I think it was around 3:1 or 4:1. Meaning a much higher death rate. Which brings another question...is that good or bad? Would you rather live without a leg, and being haunted with psychological problems the rest of your life? This isn't the rule, however I talk to a lot that have these type of problems that forever change your way of life. I'm not sure I wouldn't just rather die for my country personally, but I can't say since I've never served.
Our country's independence and establishment of democracy took over 200 years and more than 3 wars involved (revolution, invasion of 1812, civil war, spanish-american war...) where more than 100,000 of our troops died. We're building permanent military bases in Iraq and don't think we're leaving in the course of my lifetime.
Jake
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