It's time to remember why Cindy Sheehan has been exercising her civil right to free speech.
Just today....
By THOMAS WAGNER
Associated Press Writer
September 26, 2005, 11:20 AM EDT
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Roadside bombs killed three U.S. soldiers Monday in two separate attacks and 16 Iraqis were killed elsewhere, including five teachers and their driver who were shot to death in a classroom by suspected insurgents disguised as policemen.
And this is the story that will never end....
Changing face of U.S. war wounded
By Jennifer Ryan, Tribune
Sept 5, 2005
Shrapnel from mortar fire blew off nearly half of Erik Castillo's skull, shattering the right side of his face and leaving him deaf in his right ear and limp on the left side. But today, he is walking with a cane and describing horrific injuries he doesn't remember.
In previous wars, the 22-year-old would have been dead.
But soldiers such as Castillo who have traumatic brain injuries, amputations or other serious wounds are surviving thanks to protective gear and rapid medical care from the battlefield to the hospital.
The result is a 98 percent survival rate for troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"They're getting medical care within minutes of being injured," said Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, deputy director for deployment health support in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. "We have really changed the way care is delivered in this war."
A new legion of survivors with severe and often longlasting injuries has emerged, and with them come new challenges. Government and medical authorities are facing rehabilitating and eventually integrating severely disabled veterans -- especially those with traumatic brain injuries -- back into their communities.
They are also looking into better body armor, which is saving lives but not limbs, leaving many soldiers amputees.
The U.S. is confronting the medical consequences of terrorist warfare
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=47421
And this ongoing count taken from globalsecurity.org...
First column - Month Casey Sheehan died
Second column - Casualties (includes non-hostile casualties)
Third column - Wounded (includes wounded by non-hostile action)
.
Apr 2004 135 1214
May 2004 80 757
Jun 2004 42 589
Jul 2004 54 552
Aug 2004 66 895
Sep 2004 81 706
Oct 2004 63 647
Nov 2004 137 1427
Dec 2004 72 540
Jan 2005 107 496
Feb 2005 58 409
Mar 2005 36 364
Apr 2005 52 590
May 2005 79 385
Jun 2005 77 501
Jul 2005 54 473
Aug 2005 84 451
Sep TD 2005 27 97
And the latest from Iraq Body Count -
Minimum count - 26,092
Maximum count - 29.401
Of course this count doesn't include the dozens noted in the papers today.
