Death toll for American soldiers reaches 1,700
June 12, 2005 
While the country anxiously awaits the outcome of an event receiving major media coverage, the American death toll in Iraq passed 1,700 soldiers.
U.S. Toll in Iraq Pushes Past 1,700:
Four American soldiers died Saturday in two roadside bombings west of Baghdad, increasing to at least 1,701 the number of U.S. forces who have died in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. The number includes five military civilians.
There wasn’t much media coverage when the death toll reached and surpassed 1,400 or 1,500, or 1,600. Maybe that news is just too depressing to watch on TV. Or maybe the public finds war coverage too boring while waiting to hear if the King of Pop will be put away.
No matter your political persuasion, this should present a major problem to you. Americans are dying daily in Iraq and in the war coverage that we do get, we hear that things in Baghdad are getting better because there are only 2-3 suicide car bombings a day, down from the recent 13-15 per day average.
Does anyone know what the plan is for setting up Iraq and beginning to decrease American military presence there? Is the Bush Administration discussing this between harping on a Social Security plan that would reduce recipients’ benefits? Apparently many Americans don’t think so — now only 43% of Americans think Bush is doing a good job.
That’s not to say that America and the UK isn’t making a difference in Iraq. Our soldiers are definitely working hard to make things better for the people there. Building schools, training police, and rebuilding infrastructure is definitely helping — but the overall picture is still of chaos — with no end, nor plan, in sight.
1,700 soldiers — dead. If this doesn’t anger or sadden you, then maybe you’ve been too busy watching the Michael Jackson trial. Or maybe ignoring the situation is just easier. Every day American soldiers are putting their lives on the line for us — they’ve earned at least your attention.
