Afghanistan War -- Am I missing something

[CRedskinsRule]

Earlier in the year, I resurrected a thread about the Afghan war, questioning the lack of press, or serious questioning or detailed type reporting of the casualties there that was seen in the Iraq war. We lost more troops yesterday, and it still seems as if these deaths are unheralded, or just glossed over. I just don't get it. Why were the deaths of US soldiers in Iraq worth daily news focus, and diatribes on the need to exit, but US soldiers deaths in Afghanistan are not. icasualties.org has charts on the numbers of deaths and wounded. It is pretty startling:

Originally Posted by Afghan wounded by month since Jan 2009

columns are: Army Navy Marines Air Force and Total
Jan-2009 37 0 19 2 58
Feb-2009 24 0 2 1 27
Mar-2009 42 2 6 0 50
Apr-2009 41 0 5 0 46
May-2009 105 4 15 5 129
Jun-2009 136 4 33 2 175
Jul-2009 217 8 99 4 328
Aug-2009 299 9 104 4 416
Sep-2009 212 5 93 3 313
Oct-2009 195 5 73 5 278
Nov-2009 132 2 48 4 186
Dec-2009 73 5 50 5 133
Jan-2010 109 2 51 7 169
Feb-2010 111 7 98 2 218
Mar-2010 135 8 175 4 322
Apr-2010 137 4 145 5 291
May-2010 216 15 167 9 407
Jun-2010 280 12 234 3 529
Jul-2010 348 12 211 5 576

Total(since 2001) 5035 148 1937 165 7266

Originally Posted by Fatalities in Afghanistan since 2008

Columns are by Month -- Jan Feb Mar etc and total is last column
2008 14 7 19 14 22 46 30 46 37 19 12 27 293
2009 24 25 28 14 27 37 75 76 67 74 28 35 510
2010 43 52 37 33 51 103 88 79 57 35 0 0 578

First I am sorry that the charts aren't more readable, icasualties.org has the tables I cut and pasted from in organized fashion.

The main thing that caught my eye, is that since mid 2009(I bolded the split point on both charts), the number of wounded and killed monthly has nearly doubled but there is no where near the outcry. In the last thread, JoeRedskin said:

Why the lack of interest by America? Is it b/c the economy, health care and the snow storm have driven it from our minds? How long does Obama plan to be there? Are we trying to establish a client State? Are our efforts in this country in vain?

We have lost ~ 1,000 men in "and around" Afghanistan. Where is the discussion as to the necessity, or lack thereof, for there sacrifice?

Just curious.

I guess that's still my question with this thread, as our losses have gone up nearly 500, and our wounded by nearly 2500, since the start of the year.

With an election in 1 month, it seems like this would be at least a discussion in many campaigns.

[Lotus]

I'm with you, CRed. There is a troubling lack of attention.

That said, I think part of the reason for a lack of outcry is that the Afghan war is seen more as appropriate and necessary. In Afghanistan we are fighting against the authors of Sept. 11 or their ideological descendants. We should be bringing bin Laden to justice and the place to find him is on the Afghan/Pakistan border.

On the other hand, Iraq never had anything to do with Sept. 11, as we know from CIA and U.S. Army reports. From this point of view, the Iraq war is less necessary. Thus there is greater outcry about Iraq losses, as the losses seem more unnecessary.

[saden1]

The sad truth is the American media hasn't really cared about these wars since Katrina. The other sad little truth is politicians don't lose wars, the American people lose wars. People have lost interest. Sure, they will give you their opinion on the subject but they are more concerned about their own daily lives than some soldier in some war in a funny sounding country.

It's tragic.

[12thMan]

Pretty much what Saden1 said, the country has war fatigue, on top of so many other issues that everyday Americans are dealing with. Sadly, the war(s) have become just another story in the 24 hour news cycle that has an expiration date to it.

Had many of our soldiers entered the military through the draft, like Vietnam for instance, the country would feel more vested and interested, but that's not the case here.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by saden1

The sad truth is the American media hasn't really cared about these wars since Katrina. The other sad little truth is politicians don't lose wars, the American people lose wars. People have lost interest. Sure, they will give you their opinion on subject but they are more concerned about their own daily lives than some soldier in some war in a funny sounding country.

It's tragic.

Agreed.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Pretty much what Saden1 said, the country has war fatigue, on top of so many other issues that everyday Americans are dealing with. Sadly, the war(s) have become just another story in the 24 hour news cycle that has an expiration date to it.

Had many of our soldiers entered the military through the draft, like Vietnam for instance, the country would feel more vested and interested, but that's not the case here.

Thus, one of the perils of a volunteer force. It seems to create a disconnect between society and the military that protects it. Still, inexcusable to me that people are more aware and concerned about this war. Good men and women are dying. Money is being expended.

Where is the accountablility?

[firstdown]

You have been watching too much Fox News and listening to too much talk radio.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Pretty much what Saden1 said, the country has war fatigue, on top of so many other issues that everyday Americans are dealing with. Sadly, the war(s) have become just another story in the 24 hour news cycle that has an expiration date to it.

Had many of our soldiers entered the military through the draft, like Vietnam for instance, the country would feel more vested and interested, but that's not the case here.

I tend to agree. The media is in the money making business and war casualties stories grew old as the masses fatigued. I don't think it is some sinister political plot by the "liberal mainstream media" more than a business tactic. I think everyone has finally realized what Bush failed communicate when we started into the things...these wars/efforts aren't finite. They're quite the opposite. They will go on forever.

[MTK]

A little off track here but an interesting reason why we could be there... screw oil they have lithium!

Massive Afghanistan Lithium Deposit (As In Batteries) Could Alter Nation's Economy

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

A little off track here but an interesting reason why we could be there... screw oil they have lithium!

Massive Afghanistan Lithium Deposit (As In Batteries) Could Alter Nation's Economy

Lithium and other valuable minerals, but only for the Chinese and Russian:

China, Not U.S., Likely to Benefit from Afghanistan's Mineral Riches - DailyFinance

But its not like they dont have our back:

Karzai Says Afghanistan Would Back Pakistan If U.S. Attacks | Fox News

And to the point of this thread, the death toll saw significant increases in 2009 and 2010. 2011 looks to be pretty bad but should remain under 2010 levels:

iCasualties | OEF | Afghanistan | Fatalities By Year

[firstdown]

The reason you don't see this in the news is because the media wanted to bash GB every chance they had and they want to prop up Obama.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by firstdown

The reason you don't see this in the news is because the media wanted to bash GB every chance they had and they want to prop up Obama.

You're thinking of the Iraq war, the coverage of the Afghanistan war has been lacking under both presidencies.

[That Guy]

notice the huge upswings in deaths etc during june july and august. I guess that's the afghani fighting season...