The United States has lost over 3,000 young men since the beginning of the war in Iraq. That is a horribly high number. But there is another number which sends shivers down my spine: 500. That is the number of amputees this war has produced so far. According to Time Magazine, every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday military transports fly gravely wounded soldiers to the Andrew Air Force outside of Washington. From there, they are brought to the Walter Reed Army Military Center.
This Tuesday, a 24-year- old corporal was brought there. He has the sad distinction of being that 500th person. He lost both of his legs in a road-side bomb attach.
Consider the fact that the military does not count amputated toes and fingers. It is heart-braking. And still, these soldiers are the lucky ones.
Times Magazine writes:
"Despite the devastating loss, amputation is actually a blessing for many Ward 57 patients. That's because they wouldn't have survived in past wars without today's body armor to protect vital organs and better-equipped medics to quickly stop hemorrhaging and deliver the wounded to hospitals. The extraordinary rates of survival in this war — 9 of every 10 soldiers wounded make it, compared to 7.5 of 10 in Vietnam — explains the larger number of casualties who survive with severe and lasting disabilities, including loss of limbs."
Lucky or not lucky, 3000 dead or 500 amputees, what is wrong with this country? Why are we not taking to the street to stop this madness? What do you think?
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1580531,00.html?cnn=yes
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