Dean: Statement on Recent Casualties in Iraq [View All]

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Statement on Recent Casualties in Iraq

PORTSMOUTH, NH-- Governor Howard Dean, M.D. issued the following statement in response to the increasing number of casualties in Iraq:

"In October of 2002, the President and the Congress took us to war in Iraq. The American people never heard a real debate in Washington over the costs of this war and whether the war was justified.

"Yesterday, 12 brave soldiers from the Iowa National Guard's 1133rd Transportation Company of Mason City were injured along with 18 other Americans. One American died in that attack.

"Elsewhere in Iraq yesterday, another 9 soldiers were killed when their helicopter was apparently shot down. Since the war began, we have lost 494 soldiers in Iraq. Roughly 9,000 American troops have been evacuated from Iraq due to serious injuries or sickness, usually flown home in the dark of night when there are no news crews to record their arrival.

"All Iowans - and all Americans - expect and deserve answers about this war and its grim cost in lost and shattered lives.

"But today - instead of explaining why they voted for this war - my Democratic opponents in the Iowa caucuses would rather talk about trivialities."