A Game of Numbers? PT 1

A GAME OF NUMBERS? PT 1

1. Number of civilian dead in Iraq 40,000 circa (and counting)

2. Number of civilian dead in Bosnia 54, 700 circa

3. Number of civilian dead in the Battle of Britain -hence WWII- 60,000

4. Civilian dead - Hiroshima and Nagasaki 397, 000

5. Number of civilian dead in Biafra- 1, 700,000

6. Number civilian dead in the Congo 3, 900, 000

7. Number of civilian dead in Vietnam- 4,000,000

8.Number of civilian dead in the Soviet Union during WWII- 29,000,000

In Military parlance this is collateral damage. There have been several other conflicts in and around the timelines of these conflicts listed here so clearly this is not an exhaustive list. I'm no bleeding heart but I'd say that if you had ever seen battle or lost someone in battle, there would be a certain reluctance to jump into conflict. A look back at the Politicians who have encouraged recent wars are either people who have neither seen war or actually profit from war either materially or politically. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'd really appreciate it.

Having said that, whatever the arguments on all sides, each of these numbers above represents a human life someones child, father, sister, brother, father or mother, with plans/dreams/convictions like we all have. To us now they are numbers in a boring paper or blog- fine. War can be inevitable at times, but not as a tool for someone's selfish aims. This changes nothing I guess, war is big business and big egos (when our children don't have to die in them). I leave you with a typical Defence Industry advert. Click on the link below

http://www.hkdefense.us/pages/military-le/rifles-carbines/hk416.html