Afghanistan Now 15X Deadlier than Iraq

by: Brandon Friedman

Wed Sep 24, 2008 at 12:52:56 PM EDT


Nobody wants to break the loss of human life down into simple statistics, but it's often necessary to highlight just what exactly is going on.  First, consider that one year ago--last September--the hostile fire death rates in Iraq and Afghanistan were roughly equal.  But now, in terms of hostile fire death rates, what was once seen as the "safer" theater, Afghanistan has now exploded to the point that it's nearly 15 times more dangerous for American troops than Iraq.

This data is for the last 30 days:

U.S. hostile fire deaths in Iraq: 7
U.S. hostile fire deaths in Afghanistan: 22

Number of U.S. troops in Iraq: 146,000
Number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan: 33,000

Hostile fire death rate in Iraq--7 deaths per 146,000 troops (.005 percent)
Hostile fire death rate in Afghanistan--7 deaths per 10,000 troops (.07 percent)

That's a significant disparity.  Afghanistan is now nearly 15 times deadlier than Iraq.  It becomes clearer by the day that Iraq is not a "central front" of any kind.

As the two potential Commanders-in-Chief ready themselves for Friday's foreign policy debate in Mississippi, this fact needs to remain at the forefront.
Brandon Friedman :: Afghanistan Now 15X Deadlier than Iraq
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Afghanistan Now 15X Deadlier than Iraq | 12 comments
USNS John Lenthall fires at two boats off the coast of Somalia. (0.00 / 0)
Pirates have hijacked 60 ships in that area. Meanwhile, Bush wants to blockade Iran. The 'squabble' is happening at the UN right now.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/...

What column do the TWO lost in Pakistan go?

Interesting interviews from last night... (0.00 / 0)
McCain to cut defense budget. On AC360 last night.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRA...

Ahmadinejad on LKL last night. He did 'score' some interesting points about the 'creation of Israel' and who is allowed to have nukes. He doesn't say it directly, but it is well-known 'secret' that Israel has nukes but doesn't submit to IAEA regulation

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRA...

Also states that if the Holocaust happened to the degree that the Jews claim, why should the Palestinians pay for the 'crimes' committed by Europe. He cites the Gaza being denied food, water, power and medicine. He suggests that the US should give the Israeli Jews land in AK.  

[ Parent ]
If this isn't an "open thread", I'm not sure why you're talking about ... (4.00 / 1)
pirates off the Somalian coast, etc., etc. (other posts below that don't seem to have anything to do with Afghanistan).  :)  
[ Parent ]
It's a Global Whack-a-Mole... (0.00 / 0)
With the demands on our troops outstripping the size of the force.

That troops just aren't available to go to Afghanistan. That more than Afghanistan is being ignored.

[ Parent ]
Not to pile on, but (0.00 / 0)
that's not what this post is about either.  This is about comparing death rates of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  If that's not what you're referring to, then you need to place your links in the most recent open thread or in your own diary.
[ Parent ]
Iraqi Parliament has finally compromised enough to go forward with (0.00 / 0)
the Provincial elections that were originally scheduled for the first of Oct. The bill with a 'special' provision for Kirkuk still needs to be signed by the big 3.

Seems they might happen before the end of the year after the US elections.

http://www.gulfnews.com/region...

The non-hostile deaths tell a really disturbing story about the forces... (0.00 / 0)
7 die in a 'mechanical failure' Chinook crash. [1-1LT, 2-CWO, 1-SFC,  2-Sgt, 1-Cpl].

1 heart attack, 37 yr old Captain.

169 year old Chaplain  who was serving in Kuwait and was transferred back to Walter Reed.

2 Fratricides with one of the victims having requested a transfer because of the 'conditions' among the troops he was serving with.

Active Duty Army ready to deploy 10-1 to "HOMELAND BRIGADE" (0.00 / 0)
I know there is strong sentiment here to (0.00 / 0)
ratchet up U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

I believe the ratcheting should down, to zero, not up.

But I do believe there should be ratcheting.

I believe we should get out because we aren't doing ourselves any good (although we seem to be at least not bad for the poppy growers), all at a heavy cost.

We sure as shit, however, better do what we can to ensure bad guys don't gain control of Pakistan's military.

Now (0.00 / 0)
are all of these combat deaths from the Taliban/AQ gang?
Damn, (0.00 / 0)
who knew "muddling through" could be so dangerous?!
Oh Brandon, you and your "fuzzy math." (0.00 / 0)
We all just need to pray about it.

Make wars unprofitable and you make them impossible.
~A. Philip Randolph


Afghanistan Now 15X Deadlier than Iraq | 12 comments
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