Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Elsewhere who wrote (80132)	3/7/2003 8:26:54 AM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 281500

The opposition is about the possibility that 500,000 Iraqis will be killed in a war, a magnitude of casualties which has been estimated by several sources. JJ. estimates like this have about as much to do with reality as Chomsky's estimates of similar Afghan casualties. They are nothing but scare tactics by opponents, and/or writers looking to sell a story. The only way you get major Iraqi casualties is if Saddam unleashes WMD on his own people. Frankly, my fear is that Franks will be too damn careful and we will take American casualties that could be avoided if we did it right to start. I have enormous faith in our American Military but very little in Franks.

To: Elsewhere who wrote (80132)	3/7/2003 8:32:36 AM
From: michael97123	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

JJ, Does anyone really believe the 500K number? If it is that horrible it will be because saddam unleashed wmds that kill his own people and invite american or israeli retalliation in kind. In a convention several week war, casualties wont be anywhere near those number imo. If we are really afraid of the former scenario with the high casualties, think of how terrible it would be if saddam really attained power in the regions with his wmds. 500K would be a low count then. Mike

To: Elsewhere who wrote (80132)	3/7/2003 9:27:17 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Hi Jochen - the sad thing is that regardless of the number of Iraqis who actually die, that number will always be exaggerated for political reasons. Just ask yourself, did we kill 500,000 Afghanis liberating Afghanistan from the Taliban? Why would Iraq be different from Afghanistan? After all, Afghani resistance was expected to be even fiercer than Iraqi resistance is supposed to be.

To: Elsewhere who wrote (80132)	3/7/2003 9:31:28 AM
From: aladin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Jochen, Your estimate could be low, it could be high, its an estimate. However, its probably high - its produced by people trying to justify the anti-war side (just as many would argue Pentagon estimates are low). The argument for not going in now essentially define a reallity in which war could never be fought - or at least no pro-active steps could be taken. A recent report shows that the terrorists and suicide bombers are not responding to poverty, but are well educated. This forms the concept that they, much like the communists or Nazi's before them are very committed to their causes. It certainly begins to look like the clash of civilizations some discussed. With these kinds of radical pathological killers - do you really think containment works - or does it simply breed more of them? The Israeli's have not had much luck with containment. John