Uncertain

US death toll in Iraq hits 4,000

Summary: Four American troops were killed by a roadside bomb during a patrol in southern Baghdad. The number of U.S. soldier dead has total to 4,000. Other tragic incidents include the death of 13 Iraqi soldiers and 50 Iraqi citizens were killed when a suicide bomber drove a vehicle filled with explosives into a security checkpoint in the northern city of Mosul. As for the number of deaths for Iraqi citizen, the number ranges from 89,000 to one million. The conditions in Iraq is still I turmoil and the decision made by President Bush to invade Iraq is still being questioned.

Source: Aljazeera

For those who have somebody in the war, the article brings many nightmares. It makes people think of the possible outcomes, and sometimes those outcomes are not blue sky with sunshine type of outcomes but rather dreary atmosphere with dark clouds and signs of thunder and lightening outcome. From the possibilities, it forces people to cherish their close ones in the war. It forces people to take action to get in touch with them. Many pick up their pen and paper and starting asking how their close one is doing and the plans that they have for them once the war is over. And for others, they would update how the family is doing and how life has been for them since the beginning of the war.

It seems in times of war, people are generally more expressive. Different group express themselves differently. Family members begin to write more if there is a family member in the war. Supporters of the war find and join interest groups that hold the same beliefs. Protesters rally up to express themselves down the streets in an attempt to stop the war. People start to blog more with other people who are on the internet. They make their own entries and read others to stay updated.

The newest form of communication, web blogging, is a very powerful tool for keep outsiders updated with daily happenings. It presents news in a way that does not force reporters to make headlines that are appealing but rather headlines that are closer to the truth. For example, in a recent post by Micheal Yon, he states,

“News reports of sharp fighting between the Iraqi Army and rogue militia elements are concerning. Yet what many news reports neglect to mention is that the largely Shiite Iraqi government is using the Iraqi Army to fight Shiite terrorists. Certain Shiite militant leaders have called for civil disobedience against the Iraqi Government in response, but this is not a re-ignition of Shiite-Sunni civil war.

I asked Colonel Steve Boylan, Public Affairs Officer for General Petraeus, for a comment on the violence. Colonel Boylan emailed back:

“The cease fire isn’t over so we are continuing. The Prime Minister has taken about two brigades of ISF to Basra to support down there and to see for himself what the situation is. We are seeing some spike in indirect fire here in Baghdad, but not a trend. We will need to see where it goes.

The call for civil disobedience is one thing, as long as it is peaceful then it is their public voicing their views. We can have people yell at each other and that is okay…but we don’t want them shooting at each other or us.”

Source: Michael Yon

A reader responds back,

“This is news that I haven’t seen regarding Basra. What I’ve seen reported is that Mr. Maliki is directing a frontal attack on Sadr’s private army. Those main stream press reports are describing a full scale civil war rather than what your report indicates. Please continue doing this.”

It seems the post provides more accurate and realistic information than media sources where headlines and content may have some fluff in them.