Our Kids Are Dead, too... Why Isn't The Media Covering THEIR Deaths?

[Totally Committed]

Franks says Iraq deaths price for security
By Colin Fly, Associated Press Writer | May 22, 2006

MILWAUKEE --Those who count the increasing number of American soldiers killed in Iraq are missing the bigger picture, retired Gen. Tommy Franks said Saturday night. "What we're talking about is neither 2,400, 24,000 or 240,000 lives," Franks said at the National Rifle Association's annual banquet. "Terrorism is a thing that threatens our way of life. It doesn't have anything to do with politics."

More than 2,400 soldiers have died since the beginning of the invasion of Iraq, the plan for which Franks developed and executed. He also oversaw combat in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. "I watched as America changed," Franks said. "That's not near done. We have to secure ourselves..."

In actuality, as of this morning:

U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: 2682
Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation: 13
Total 2695

http://www.icasualties.org/oif/

During his 30-minute speech, Franks took an occasional jab at the media and fellow generals for attacking Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. "We haven't got any generals here. They're all in front of TV cameras complaining about Don Rumsfeld," Franks deadpanned. "Difference is, I know what I'm talking about..... I don't care about your politics. I don't. Don Rumsfeld is an American patriot."

Franks retired in 2003 after a 36-year career in the Army, highlighted by becoming commander of Central Command in June 2000. He received warm ovations from the 3,000 NRA members in attendance.

"It makes me think about going into politics," Franks said. "The great blessing is that thought doesn't last long."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/05/22/franks_says_iraq_deaths_price_for_security/

How does the media cover this? Badly. We are now being bombarded on a daily basis with the latest updates about the autopsies being performed in a valiant effort to discover how and why Anna Nicole Smith's beautiful 20-year-old son died.

As a mother who lost a son far before his time, I can tell you that my heart goes out to her. Truly, it does. Every mother who ever lost a child has felt devastated. Every death feels unexpected and cruel, no matter the cause. But, with all due respect to the pain and anguish I can't deny she must be feeling, what about the 2,600+ soldiers who have died in Iraq? They arrive home, sometimes in a flag-draped coffin. The Commander-in-Chief has made it a policy to never meet the plane that carries them. He meets with the families only after their period of mourning has gone, to "remember and laugh with them". Some mothers, as we well know, he refuses to meet with at all... but, this only happens when he knows they will need some hard questions answered, some truths to be told.

And, still, the media makes no big deal about this. Ask the average American about Anna Nicole's son. My guess is they know he's dead, and are waiting with bated breath for the how and the why. Then ask them how many mother's children have died in Iraq. Even Tommy Franks didn't know, and he feels he's an expert. Ask how and why those mother's children died, and not only will they not know, but you'll be called unpatriotic for asking that question. If you want to take this even further, as the average American how many Iraqi civilians have died, and how many were children. That question usually gets you labelled an "America hater".

The truth is too many mothers are crying over the deaths of their children... all who have died way before their time. Why isn't the media covering it? Why are we the only ones asking these questions? And why are we considered less patriotic when we do?

Is it time we demand coverage? I don't know... you tell ME.

TC

[Totally Committed]

1. Okay, maybe I was wrong...

Maybe this really isn't something people are concerned about, and the media is getting it right for a change?????

I'm stunned.

TC

[Totally Committed]

2. So it's just not OUR kids....

Civilian deaths soar to record high in Iraq

· UN report warns of grave sectarian crisis in country
· Doubts on PM's ability to avoid slide to civil war

Nearly 7,000 civilians were killed in Iraq in the past two months, according to a UN report just released - a record high that is far greater than initial estimates had suggested. As American generals in Baghdad warned that the violence could worsen in the run up to Ramadan next Monday, the UN spoke of a "grave sectarian crisis" gripping the country.

With known Iraqi deaths running at more than 100 a day because of sectarian murders, al-Qaida and nationalist insurgent attacks, and fatalities inflicted by the multinational forces, the UN said its total was likely to be "on the low side" because of the difficulties of collecting accurate figures. In particular, it said that no deaths were reported from the violent region covering Ramadi and Falluja.

The report from the UN assistance mission in Iraq's human rights office reported evidence of torture, unlawful detentions, the growth of sectarian militias and death squads, and a rise in "honour killings" of women. The increasing incidence of discovery of the bodies of women and teenage girls, shot in the chest rather than in the head, has been attributed to the establishment by both extremist Sunnis and Shias of secretive sharia committees, which locals say carry out killings.

In a separate development, Manfred Nowak, the UN's special investigator, said torture was "totally out of hand" and might even be worse now than under Saddam Hussein. "You have terrorist groups, you have the military, you have police, you have these militias. There are so many people who are abducted, seriously tortured and finally killed," he told reporters at the UN's Geneva headquarters.

Entire Story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1878474,00.html


Still no comment?

TC