We Don't Do Body Counts

The words of General Tommy Franks. People die in war so why count them?


However, long after the defeat of Saddam, after the end of the battle, is it relevant to ask questions of a moral nature?
Considering we all agree there was no involvement with Iraq in 911 or with al Qaeda, nor were there any WMD there, or were they a serious threat to anyone, should anyone be held responsible for an immoral invasion that went all wrong?


American researchers at John Hopkins using internationally recognized counting methods, methods also used and recognised by the White House when it suits them, have put the conservative number of Iraqis killed at about 1 million.

Is that not a staggering loss? For what?

Add to this the larger number that are seriously injured , the numbers who suffer the loss of relatives, the destruction of their homes and country, orphaned children, the 5 million who fled the country to live in tents suffering tremendous hardship and violence trying to escape the violence.

This is why Bush can't leave. It would immediately invite the many morally outraged questions about whether they knew Iraq was not a threat before going in, what were the real reasons for invading and why they stayed so long when nothing could be accomplished.
Just like the end of Vietnam. When it's over, everyone starts to wonder why no one tried to stop it sooner.