Gen. Pace: U.S. Army Strained
The nation's top military officer, Gen. Peter Pace, has warned Congress that the military is under increasing strain because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pace said there is a significant risk that the U.S. military won't be able to quickly and fully respond to a third crisis.
Americans Underestimate Number of Iraqis Killed in War
A new poll by the Associated Press has found that Americans are keenly aware of how many U.S. forces have lost their lives in Iraq but they woefully underestimate the number of Iraqi civilians who have been killed. Half of Americans polled said they thought fewer than ten thousand Iraqis had died since the Iraq war began. The actual death toll is far higher. Researchers from Johns Hopkins estimate about 655,000 Iraqis have died as a consequence of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Laura Bush Downplays Level of Violence in Iraq
First Lady Laura Bush is also being accused of downplaying the level of violence in iraq. During an interview on Larry King, Laura Bush said, “Many parts of Iraq are stable now. But, of course, what we see on television is the one bombing a day that discourages everybody.” The Brookings Institute recently estimated there are approximately185 insurgent and militia attacks every day.