The Pentagon announced yesterday that the American death toll in Iraq has exceeded 1,000, passing a threshold that is at once emotionally painful and politically sensitive.
President Bush responded to the news by expressing his sorrow at the loss as well as his confidence in progress of the ongoing war in Iraq. At the same time, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry responded by listing the costs incurred by the war. At these times of intense political contention, it is important to pause to remember those who died.
Those who have given their lives in combat come from all over the country and from many different backgrounds. They were soldiers from small towns in Middle America and from the big cities that dot both coasts. Many young people have given their lives in this war, but at the same time increased reliance on National Guard and reserve units of citizen soldiers has meant that the ranks of the fallen include those well into their fifties.
Although many think of the army as consisting primarily of young recruits straight from high school, the dead include not only graduates of the service academies but also university graduates who either served in the ROTC or signed up after college. They are, in short, a snapshot of America: black, brown and white, men and women, from New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and everywhere in between.
The number of 1,000 may prove to be a big stumbling block for the American people when they consider whether the war in Iraq has been worth the cost to America in both lives and dollars.
In practical terms, the number changes very little: it is not a significant chunk out of the American presence in the region and will have a negligible effect on the operational capabilities of the American forces. It does, however, make the cost of the war seem very real to many. As more soldiers fall in the line of fire more people back home are touched by the death of a friend or relative. No longer is the war in Iraq an abstract concept with intangible costs.
Although it is difficult to quantify the exact psychological impact of the 1,000 mark, it should spur us to pay attention to what is happening overseas. It is incumbent on every citizen to become informed about the situation before the elections arrive.
Even more importantly, Americans need to exercise their vote on the second of November. We should hold our politicians accountable for the statements they make and the actions they take, in the hope that not a single citizen more than necessary will die in order for us to accomplish our objectives in the region.
If this happens, we will have truly accomplished our mission.
