# TAQWACORE WEBZINE

### Why has everyone forgotten about Iraq?

Posted by falafelwarrior on October 31, 2009 · 4 Comments

Just to give a little statistics behind a more in-depth post I’m thinking about posting in a few days, I thought I’d give a little background into why it’s bullshit that everyone has forgotten about the war in Iraq.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the war in Afghanistan is not an important humanitarian crisis, and I’m definitely not saying it’s not violent. Indeed, since it has spilled over into Pakistan, it IS threatening to destabilize its neighbors. However, it is suspicious, though, that the focus of the entire American press is centered square on the country, meanwhile largely ignoring the larger war in Iraq. In fact, 251 times MORE so….

Here are some numbers:

> At least 753,399 people have
> been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq
> since the U.S. and coalition attacks, based on lowest credible estimates.

> Most recent update: September 11, 2009. This page is updated about once monthly.

> About 251 times as many people have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq than in the ghastly attacks of September 11, 2001. More than 108 times as many people have been killed in these wars and occupations than in all terrorist attacks in the world from 1993-2004. The 2004 report showed terrorism at an all-time high, and after numerous experts suggested that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were fueling the increase, subsequent reports have remained classified.

> Sources and methodology Notes about varying casualty counts cited elsewhere

> # Casualties in Afghanistan:
> Afghan troops killed [1] 11,152
> Afghan troops seriously injured [2] 33,456
> Afghan civilians killed [3] 7,589
> Afghan civilians seriously injured [4] 13,660
> U.S. troops killed [5] 746
> U.S. troops seriously injured [6] 2,238
> Other coalition troops killed [7] 551
> Other coalition troops seriously injured [8] 1,653
> Contractors killed [9] 75
> Contractors seriously injured [10] 2,428
> Journalists killed [11] 6
> Journalists seriously injured [12] unknown
> Total killed in Afghanistan: 20,119
> Total injured in Afghanistan: 53,435

> # Casualties in Iraq:
> Iraqi troops killed [13] 30,000
> Iraqi troops seriously injured [14] 90,000
> Iraqi civilians killed [15] 697,523
> Iraqi civilians seriously injured [16] 1,255,541
> U.S. troops killed [17] 4,343
> U.S. troops seriously injured [18] 31,156
> Other coalition troops killed [19] 318
> Other coalition troops seriously injured [20] 10,821
> Contractors killed [21] 933
> Contractors seriously injured [22] 10,569
> Journalists killed [23] 163
> Journalists seriously injured [24] unknown
> Total killed in Iraq: 733,280
> Total injured in Iraq: 1,398,087

> Source: http://www.unknownnews.net/casualties.html

Maybe I just don’t get it… I’ve always been against these wars because I don’t like to see innocent people killed. And that’s exactly how they try to frame the conflicts when convenient, but then also conveniently ignore Iraq when it no longer fits the current adminstration’s agenda.

The fascination with the war in Afghanistan in the media really begs the question if it is simply a propaganda victory the US is searching for, or if “human rights” and “democracy” are truly the goals. The media keeps harping on the imminent danger of the war in Afghanistan and the conflict in Pakistan, but what’s going on in Iraq?

If that were the goal, then why don’t we talk more about refugees than the number of suicide-bombing victims? Because in addition to the above statistics, there are much less scientific counts of how many homeless refugees the Iraq war has created in neighboring countries throughout its course. So many, in fact, that suddenly upset demographic-shifts have created drastic housing shortages and inflation amongst other things, which have somewhat destabilized those countries as well.

Just because American troops stopped going on patrol and pulled out of the cities, doesn’t mean that the war isn’t happening anymore. Although they are no longer in danger, or putting themselves on the line, the average Iraqi is far from safe in “liberated” Iraq. Unless, of course, that implies liberating them from their lives….

But it’s not just about Iraq, because there are a few other conflicts that are much larger, more dire humanitarian crises that are being blocked out of the public’s conscience, like the Zaydi (Shia’) rebellion in Yemen, for example. But since there are no major American interests at stake, humanity suddenly become less important.

As for the possible explanations why this is happening, I’ll leave that for a post at a later date. But for now, I just wanted to make sure the Iraqis aren’t abandoned in your thoughts.

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##### Comments

4 Responses to “Why has everyone forgotten about Iraq?”

1. Kaitlin says:
   November 2, 2009 at 10:05 am

   Where’s the Kanye West crazy talk about Iraq? I miss when he made that statement about Bush and racial tension post-Katrina nervously and spontaneously on live TV. It. was. awesome.

   Maybe it’s time for everyone take a turn feeling uncomfortable in public again.

   Reply
2. Samanarana says:
   March 31, 2010 at 7:45 am

   I support both the U.S. troops, as in the soldiers who have no decision in where they are deployed, and the Afghani and Iraqi civilians. It’s possible to support all of them, yes? It is the WAR in itself which I despise.

   Reply
3. Steiner says:
   June 30, 2010 at 12:41 pm

   I met a refugee from Iraq today in Australia. Not everyone has forgotten Iraq. I am just a citizen of the world, and hope to see an end to the bloodshed and a start to the true rebuilding of Iraq. I think of the children of Iraq, like in the picture above, and their families, and hope the day will come when peace may come to these people. When the children don’t look upon the dead, but upon the living, working and laughing together. It starts with each of us beginning to care for each other.

   Reply
4. Jeffrey says:
   July 1, 2010 at 1:42 am

   I am wondering on what they are fighting and wht they are still there? I believe there is a motive behind the hole process, if there are any suggestion please feel free to email me the information jeffrey_clody@yahoo.com

   Reply

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