[Macktee]

I almost made this a poll, but decided against it.

What do you think?




Regardless of where you stand on the issue of the U.S. involvement in Iraq, here's an interesting statistic:

There has been a monthly average of 160,000 US troops in the Iraq theatre of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2,112 deaths.

That gives a monthly firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.

The firearm death rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000 persons for the same period.

That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. Capital than you are in Iraq.


Conclusion: The U.S. should pull out of Washington !!!



:hardhead:

 

[VolGrad]

Don't be ridiculous. We should just ban handguns in DC. Oh wait, they already tried that.

:rotfl2:

I would love to see your proposal discussed in an upcoming presidential debates - both parties.

 

[wsweeks2]

I love it Macktee. Really says something about their gun control laws.

 

[tace]

So, the only lives count are the ones of those American soldiers killed?

What about the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians who got killed in that period?

 

[Thorsen]

So, the only lives count are the ones of those American soldiers killed?

What about the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians who got killed in that period?

Almost all of them killed by either other Iraqis or foreign born fighters. And I am sure that you realize that if the American troops were removed those killings would escalate.

That aside, I don't think anyone was discounting the death of Iraqis. A point was being made that it is less dangerous being an American soldier in Iraq than it is being a citizen of Washington DC. Similar points were made during the first Persian Gulf War when the likelihood of dying during that conflict was found to be less than if the soldier was on stateside duty .... primarily because there was no alcohol for them to imbibe and get killed while DUI.

 

[wsweeks2]

What about the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians who got killed in that period?

You have evidence of US troops going on civilian murder missions? I'd like to see it.

That wasn't the point.

 

[M249]

Great post!

Tace, while I got some sympathy for your argument, the persons most responsible for civilian deaths in Iraq don't wear Day-Glo, or Copyright Camo. We have our criminals, but they get dealt with, and I have it on good authority that .mil prisons are not nearly as nice as your typical federal penitentiary.

 

[tace]

You have evidence of US troops going on civilian murder missions? I'd like to see it.

That wasn't the point.

No, but this wasn't the point either.