July 13, 2005
BUT JUST TRY GETTING THEM TO TAKE MASS TRANSIT:
Iraq's not so dangerous, Guard chief says (ROBERT BURNS, 7/13/05, Chicago Sun-Times)
The dangers faced by U.S. troops in Iraq have been exaggerated, adding to the difficulty of recruiting soldiers , the Army general in charge of National Guard forces said Tuesday.Posted by Orrin Judd at July 13, 2005 10:15 AMThe casualty rate for Guardsmen is low compared with any previous armed conflict, said Lt. Gen. Steven Blum.
He said he recognizes that every death is a tragedy for that person's family. ''But I lose, unfortunately, more people through private automobile accidents and motorcycle accidents over the same period of time,'' he added.
''It is dangerous, but it is -- I shouldn't say it to this group but I'm going to -- it is misrepresented, how dangerous it really is,'' Blum said to defense reporters.
This is exactly correct. Statistically, my civilian son is more at risk driving his muscle car back and forth to school and work than is his Doggie older brother overseas--and he doesn't even use his cell phone in the car.
Even in Vietnam, except for the infantry, military people were safer in country than they would have been at home. There are always risks--they might get you while you are handing out candy to little children.
Posted by: Lou Gots at July 13, 2005 5:05 PM
BUT JUST TRY GETTING THEM TO TAKE MASS TRANSIT
Maybe this kind of thing has something to do with that:
"A crowded Pakistani passenger train rammed into another at a station on Wednesday and a third train then plowed into the wreckage killing about 120 people and injuring hundreds."
Posted by: Michael Herdegen at July 14, 2005 1:48 AMEver driven through downtown Islammabad at rush hour? 120 are killed a day.
Posted by: oj at July 14, 2005 7:15 AM