War Casualties in Perspective

The War on Terror has received unparalleled media attention since the September 11th attacks. Everyday, news outlets report the ever-increasing death toll in the Middle East, indicating in their subtle way of a skirmish that has failed. While the merits of military action in the region can be debated soundly on all positions, all of the poli-talk does not camouflage the fact that military personnel continue to serve in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Wiki Article: War on Terrorism
Wiki Article: Operation Enduring Freedom
Wiki Article: Operation Iraqi Freedom

A major focus of media coverage that can be attributed to a decline in popularity for the Global War on Terror is loss of life of military personnel. Many outspoken anti-war groups have taken on war casualties as their (perhaps most successful) cause célèbre for removal of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, likening the campaigns to that of a previous 'failed' conflict - Vietnam. While the intent of each war is different, inferences and correlations between 'unpopular wars' made by talking heads welcomed further investigation into U.S. military deaths without opinion and manipulation:

Historical Overview of War Casualties

**Official Department of Defense Statistics**
Civil War (1861-1865)...................364,511
World War I (1917-1918).............116, 516
World War II (1941-1946)...........405,399
Korean War (1950-1953)..............36,574
Vietnam Conflict (1964-1973)......58,209
Persian Gulf War (1990-1991).....382

Active Duty Military Deaths

Web Link: Department of Defense Personnel & Procurement Statistics

**Tallies below were computed using DoD personnel statistics**

1981-1990:
21,344
81 due to hostile action
294 due to terrorist attack
12,532 due to accident

1991-2000:
10,580
148 due to hostile action
76 due to terrorist attack
5,560 due to accident

2001-2006 (*updated on November 22, 2007):
8,989
2,603 due to hostile action
55 due to terrorist attack
3,331 due to accident

Afterthought:

As a 'military brat' who had the honor of studying National Security at a military graduate school alongside officer heroes who undoubtedly serve in these military campaigns, soldiers hold a special place in my heart. I contend that any loss of life is a horrid result of war or service, and do not make light of what I felt compelled to report - placing into perspective casualties of war and service-connected deaths during times of peace.

Electile Dysfunction

Electile Dysfunction is defined as: the inability to become aroused over any choices for President by either party in the 2008 election cycle.

2008 Election Snapshot

Unlike any election I can recall during my lifetime, it seems as if this year has provided voters with the most lackluster crop of candidates for President...at least in the last several generations (notwithstanding the 1996 Clinton/Dole faceoff, which I gauge to be a somewhat close second). Without an heir-apparent to succeed Bush, emerging factions of the Republican party are waging an internal ideological war - most specifically between the religious right and the libertarian centrists - reminiscent of decades past when Jerry Falwell and other evangelical leaders brought Southern Democrats to the open arms of Reagan's party.

Today, the Republican primary is all but whittled down to John McCain & Mitt Romney (Mike Huckabee is still in the heat, but his campaign is having apparent financial difficulties that will probably take him out of the race after Super Tuesday; Texas Congressman Ron Paul has attracted positive attention from Libertarian-Republicans, but not enough for a serious bid). McCain - ever the maverick - ruffles the feathers of the establishment party, serving as the Senate Democrats go-to guy anytime they want to buck the President; only recently warming up to Bush's tax cuts and other policies. Romney, on the other hand, has had inherent image problems from the start stemming from his Mormon faith, and inability to connect his policies to the people. In his favor, Romney had amassed a considerable fortune before serving as Governor of the historically liberal state of Massachusetts, which can keep him in the race long-term.

John McCain Wikipedia Article

Mitt Romney Wikipedia Article

On the left, Democrats are having their own struggles. In what should have been a coast to coast sweep, Hillary Clinton is in the fight of her political life against newcomer Barack Obama. After waiting patiently while her husband served as Governor and then President; biding her time in the Senate whilst sitting out the 2004 elections - it was indubitable that Clinton's ultimate ambition was to elevated to the title of Commander-in-Chief (at least in her mind) as 2008 approached. After all, save for a few embarrassments that the mainstream media outlets were quick to forget -- a la Whitewater, Monica Lewinsky, stealing $200,000 worth of goods from the White House & being forced to return them, Monica Lewinsky, Sandy Berger and the theft of incriminating documents from the National Archives, Vince Foster's suspicious suicide, Monica Lewinsky (ok...maybe we haven't forgotten about the blue Gap dress yet) -- the Clinton name was as good as gold in Blue states and cities across the country.

Hillary Clinton Wikipedia Article

That was, until OBAMA.

Many Americans, both to the left and right, are intrigued by the Obama phenomenon. His meteoric rise to the top of American politics has been in large part due to happenstance. Running as a relative nobody against investment banker-cum-high school teacher Jack Ryan in 2004, Obama had quite a race in front of him. However, his big break came after divorce court documents released in the media portrayed Ryan (who had divorced actress Jeri Ryan 5 years prior) as a sexual deviant. With the clock running down on the election, the Republicans couldn't recruit a suitable replacement, and Obama walked right into the open Senate slot.

Jack Ryan Wikipedia Article

The Senator-elect from Illinois put a definite kink in the armor of the Republican party, and gave Obama instant credibility in his party as a power player. Americans hailed him for his ability to speak with a bravado of hope, which also attracted the attention of many celebrities including previously-apolitical Oprah Winfrey and others to lend their support to his Presidential bid. However, one of the biggest criticisms facing Obama is his lack of sound experience, and according to his fiercest opponents - the lack of any firm policy positions.

Barack Obama Wikipedia Article

While no one can predict without a doubt who will be residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on January 20, 2009, many Americans don't seem to care. Whilst some believe that due to the fact that America is at war in the Middle East with nuclear concerns looming from Iran, we need a President who is firm on national security (traditionally attributed to the Republican party); others are more concerned with an impending recession accredited to President Bush and the formerly Republican-controlled Congress, and thus desire a Democrat in the White House.

2008 Election Political Polling

The real question is: when it comes right down to it, do Americans really care WHO will be President??

**NOTE: As of Thursday, February 7, 2007, Mitt Romney is no longer a candidate for President.