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The Pentagons Death And Deception

A readers Commentary

11/29/03: (ICH) In Iraq War I, the death rate of the combat wounded was 24%. That is, 24% of soldiers wounded in combat later died of their wounds. In Iraq War II the reported death rate is 0.37%. Are flak vests and medical facilities really that much better now or is the Pentagon lying through its teeth as it has so often before? 

According to Lt. Barry Venable in charge of public relations at the Pentagon, 2094 soldiers were wounded in action from March 20 through Nov. 26 and only 9 later died of their wounds. The Landstuhl Medical Facility in Germany admits to 4 deaths among the 7000 soldiers that have been admitted (including many with psychological problems). Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, reported only one death despite a steady stream of wounded soldiers that keeps half the hospital filled. Apparently, the remaining 4 soldiers died in field medical facilities. 

The number of deaths of the wounded reported is astoundingly low. In World War II the wounded death rate was about 40%. Medical advances and superior flak protection reduced the rate in the Viet Nam War to 25% and further to 24% during Iraq War I. Are we really supposed to believe that the rate is now 0.37%? If the real rate were only 10%, 201 soldiers would have died from their wounds, if 20%, 402 soldiers would have died. These numbers compare to the killed in action total of 298, as of Nov. 26. No wonder Rumsfeld has suppressed this information. 

Americans deserve to be told the truth about the real number of our tender youth who have lost their lives in this terrible war. Such knowledge could help prevent another headlong rush to a pointless and divisive conflict.