Sunday, September 10, 2006

Gil only off by about 900

Today, Gil exclaims in his notorious column:

And indeed, the number of Americans killed there [Iraq] now approaches the number killed Sept. 11 — and the dying is nowhere near done.


When Gil says "killed" there, that implies to me that he is talking about KIA (killed in action). Otherwise, wouldn't he use a term such as "died" there? I don't consider someone dying of natural health problems in Iraq a "kill".

According to Icasualties.org, the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq by a hostile enemy is 2,130.

The Department of Defense puts the number of KIA at 2,119 as of September 8, 2006 at 10 am.

I confess that the number is "approaching" 3,000 (short about 900). Will it get there? Possibly - in time. But I would rather see that number spanning over 3+ years than have it happen in a single day like it did on September 11. To suggest that the numbers are nearly matching up at this point is highly misleading.

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