Debunking Myths

Among the branches of the U.S. military, the Army has suffered the heaviest losses. More than two-thirds of those killed were members of the Army, which includes reservists and Army National Guard.

For the much smaller Marine Corps, the war is exacting a heavy toll, as well. The Corps has lost nearly 900 Marines, including reservists. The Navy has lost more than 60 sailors; the Air Force, just under 30 personnel.

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Seventy-four percent of all the fatalities were white; 11 percent were Hispanic or Latino; nearly 10 percent were African-American; about 3 percent were either Asian, American Indian, or native Hawaiian.(NH)

Charles Rangel has claimed - as Jesse Jackson before him - that America's wars of aggression are borne on the backs of urban blacks.

Blacks comprise 16.5% of the total force but the casualty rate in Iraq is only 10%. White and Latino casualty rates equate to the the percentage of their population in the force at nearly a 1:1 rate.

Furthermore the entire notion that urban areas provide the bulk of military recruits is false.

The constant increase in the recruit/population ratio contradicts the assertion that military recruiting targets youth in inner cities. In fact, entirely urban areas are the area most underrepresented among recruits. Both suburban and rural areas are overrepresented. (HF)

Then of course there is something we all know - the Army, specifically the fighting Army, drawls.

The South is overrepresented among military recruits. It provided 42.2 percent of 1999 recruits and 41.0 percent of 2003 recruits but contained just 35.6 percent of the population ages 18/24. (HF)

This is of course not a new revelation to those that know. I cannot find the data for Southerners in combat arms specialties but my 20+ years of experience tells me that the bulk of those positions are filled with Southern men.

Lastly, consider this nearly 1 Soldier in every 909 serving in the Active and Reserve force has been killed in Iraq. One Marine in 251 has died. The Marine Corps is a small and close organization - every Marine knows a fallen brother.

The Navy has contributed beyond what is expected of a sea service in a land war. The Air Force - the second largest service - is a group I have a real problem with. They manipulate the AFN news service with propaganda about the massive contribution they are making to the effort. Only one Airmen in 18,073 has actually died in combat - you bunch of windbags ought to consider shutting your mouths or perhaps extending your "tours" past 4 months and maybe actually leaving the wire a bit more if you are going to claim you are making a big contribution.