OK. But when you go by this, it's around 1%:

http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news2/million.html

And by the way, this is not a good news piece. This basically says we are stretching the military to the limit. One of the reasons I'm not too happy about the way Bush is conducting the war.

At any rate, it doesn't matter. The reason I use the term salivate, is because the anti-war crowd typically use casualty figures as a way to demoralize the nation into believing the war in total is a lost cause. It's almost obsessive. And at the same time, it's patently destructive to the war effort. Like it or not, we're there. And I find it sickening that the anti-war crowd, a few of whom may be honest in their dissent, are largely seeking to end the war as fast as possible at any cost. That's not going to end the problems. Leaving without achieving stability may make it worse. But they don't seem to think 5-10 years down the road as forward looking. They are like my 5 year old niece who want what they want NOW! Darn the consequences.

All poltical bull**** aside there is no easy answer, and neither side of the poltical isle can come up with one. We're stuck between a rock and a hardplace. Im no poltician or armchair general. Just a vet sitting in a cubicle. I see only three options:

1.) Find a poltical solution.

or

2.) Go full bore. If were going to follow a plan of "clear and hold" for counterinsurgency in iraq where going to need alot more the "20K additional troops stall tactic to dump the mess on the next president" bull****. Reinstate the draft, were talking to the tune of keeping 500 to 600 thousand combat troops incountry to hold areas once cleared.

or

3.)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...tnamescape.jpg

Option 2 is out. This country will never accept a draft. Polticaly active mothers everywhere would flip out. That leaves option 1 and 3.

Look bleaker? Is that why you just count deaths as casualties? 1% makes it look brighter?
Use facts. A casualty is a KIA and a WIA.

Please point to where you trying to manipulate casualty numbers equals me salivating! The point I'm making is you don't tell the truth.
My goal is to replace incompetence with someone that knows what they are doing.

So now you think telling the truth is demoralizing and salivating over failure? Sorry! What concerns me is people like you who try to cover the truth and belch rhetorical propaganda to try and cover the failures instead of changing the course of action.
Congress hasn't been in session two weeks and you are already blaming congress for your failures of five years. Thats what happens when political idiots try to play general with people like you cheering them on. Thank god this isn't the second world war because we'd be speaking German.

Doesn't that about sum up the whole Iraq affair. Should have said that to this administration.

Well if you're concerned for the truth, total troop deployment to total casualty ratio should be your guide. And in that regard, especially compared to other conflicts, those numbers are pretty low. And my friend, all you do is dig for bad news. You seem to hope for failure. You seem to be somebody that is concerned for focusing on the bad to ensure that people lose the will to see things through. You aren't searching for the truth. Far from it. And I'm afraid you are going to get your way anyway. And there will be hell to pay because of it. The truth is, not all is lost. We have not lost yet. I'm concerned because the focus seems to be to get the American people to think we've lost. Demoralize them to the point of frustration.

And that's why I think your side is dangerous and ultimately will see to it that things will not only prolong, but we may have to face a stronger version of this same enemy down the road because of the lack of resolve now. And my concern in that is that there are people over there that need our support. Democrats will see to it that they died in vain. I say if you're going to fight, fight to win. If only the Dems had as much fighting spirit against the terrorists as they seem to have for Bush. You think Bush is incompetent, yet you're people don't even have an idea of what to do. Whether you like it or not, Bush is the CINC. And the fact that you guys seem to offer nothing other than criticism of Bush, I don't think you guys are up for the task. You guys want surrender. You guys don't want to face this enemy. And as such, your grandchildren may have to fight this war. Your lack of foresight will guarantee it. Indeed if this was WW2 and you people were around, the USA and the allies would be screwed.

Sea Demon I believe you are going to far. IIRC Brad has served his country, have you?

Yes. Enlisted and then Officer after college (USAF). For more than a decade of service. Topic closed for me. Consider me zipped up.