A new study from Brown University’s Costs of War project puts that terror into stark relief. It estimates that 800,000 people have been killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen in the wars we’ve launched since 9/11, with local civilians representing the largest share of that total.
But that’s a conservative estimate. When you add those who died from preventable causes thanks to decimated health care, food, and sanitation systems in our many war zones, American University’s David Vine writes, the figure climbs to 3.1 million. The vast majority are civilians.
That’s over 1,000 times the number of innocents who died on 9/11—an almost incomprehensible toll.
Americans have also paid dearly for these wars: $6.4 trillion, plus significant losses of life and limb. Some 7,000 U.S. troops have died in these conflicts.
Maybe toss out that when you're passing the turkey around the table.
"Iraq snapshot" (THE COMMON ILLS):
Tuesday, November 26, 2019. More problems for Joe Biden and the protests continue in Iraq as another protesters is shot dead.
Starting in the US where the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination continues. What also continues? War Hawk Joe Biden's struggling campaign. As Kat noted, Joe's lost a key staffer. Vanessa Cardenas. Marc Caputo (POLITICO) reports:
Adrian Carrasquillo adds a few thoughts.
Starting in the US where the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination continues. What also continues? War Hawk Joe Biden's struggling campaign. As Kat noted, Joe's lost a key staffer. Vanessa Cardenas. Marc Caputo (POLITICO) reports:
A senior Joe Biden campaign staffer in
charge of outreach to Latino, African-American and women’s groups has
quit her post, telling two allies she was frustrated over her lack of
input and with the presidential candidate’s immigration rhetoric.
Vanessa Cárdenas, the most senior
Latina Biden staffer, had been serving as national coalitions director
since the campaign formally announced its existence April 25. She
resigned last week and has since changed her bio on Twitter to say she
was “formerly with @joebiden.”
Cárdenas did not return a call or text message, but two friends familiar
with her thinking told POLITICO that she felt the campaign wasn’t
heeding her advice on immigration as she tried to reach out to Latino
groups that have had longstanding concerns with the former vice
president’s rhetoric and record stemming from the Obama administration.
Adrian Carrasquillo adds a few thoughts.
Important scoop by @MarcACaputo. Here’s some additional context I just found out. 1/x
According to someone with knowledge of Vanessa Cardenas frustration from her time within Biden camp, there was concern the campaign is not welcoming on any suggestions on tone, immigration messaging, and they’re defensive on Obama deportations.
Again, there was mention of how frustrated they were with Jorge Ramos pummeling from September debate. The thing is Latino staff/activists know Ramos would ask Qs like this since he did of Obama.
A feeling from people who have spoken with Vanessa Cardenas was also the belief that Biden camp is taking Latinos for granted.
Biden telling a Latino immigration activist “You should vote for Trump” came after Vanessa Cardenas decided to leave but like Caputo said it underscored the reasons for leaving.
As it was said to me, you don’t have to hit Obama to say to activists “you’re right, DHS and ICE have been weaponized against Latinos, I will clean house and will review orders of deportation,” even if you won’t say you will end them all.
A source who knows Vanessa Cardenas well and has worked with her also underscored that she is not the burn it down kind of activist. She is a “put her head down and get to work on the side of the community” type of activist. For her to decide to quit is a big deal.
Worth noting that in recent days, Vanessa Cardenas liked 2 tweets. This one from @leedsgarcia, another activist and operative who is loathe to personally criticize a 2020 Dem, on Biden’s error saying “vote for Trump”
And this one from respected top Dem staffer (for Kamala Harris) @emmyruiz, which also resonates since Cardenas did not feel she was being listened to.
"Vanessa Cárdenas, the most senior Latina Biden staffer...resigned last week and has since changed her bio on Twitter to say she was “formerly with @joebiden.”
Wonder if there's any coincidence this shameful exchange happened last week too.
The problems never end for Joe Biden. Note this:
Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden
tangled with a Fox News reporter on Thursday when the former vice
president was asked about a recent report and court filing saying that
his son Hunter is the biological father of a baby whose mother he initially denied having sex with.
“I’m
wondering if you have a comment on this report, and court filing, out
of Arkansas that your son Hunter just made you a grandfather again,” Fox
News’ Peter Doocy asked.
“Only you would ask that,” Biden said. “You’re a good man. You’re a good man. Classy.”
No, it is not a private matter. Private matters do not require adjudication in a court. In three months, Hunter Biden turns 50. He got a woman pregnant and he wanted to lie about it. She and her child have suffered during this time -- during this time when Hunter should have been paying child support. This isn't a private matter.
Dead beat dads are not a private issue -- they are a scandal. And Joe can't talk about reproductive rights without owning what his trashy son has done. Reporductive rights include abortion, they include birth control. They also include birth. A woman gave birth to a child and her life and the child's life have been complicated by a man who doesn't want to responsibility for being a father.
Let's also remember that Hunter Biden's first wife has had to go to the court (again) because Hunter's not honoring a previous court agreement. That's not a private matter.
Beau Biden dying and Hunter deciding to chase after the widow? Trashy, but even that's not a private matter.
Hunter's not a child. And Joe declared this run knowing full well that there was a good chance Hunter had gotten a woman pregnant and was trying to walk out on his responsibilities. Joe entered the race knowing Hunter's ex-wife had already filed court papers about how Hunter wasted large sums of money on cocaine and hookers.
Joe doesn't get a pass on scandals. He wants to run for the White House, anything any adult in his family does is fair game. Let's stop pretending that covering Hunter's very serious problems is akin to it being 1978 and the press being mean to a child named Amy Carter. It is not the same.
Joe's got so many problems with his campaign. Kate Sosin (LOGO) points out:
Former vice president and 2020 presidential hopeful Joe Biden will sell you a t-shirt with his name and a transgender flag. What you can’t get from the former VP’s website, however, is a plan on what he would do for LGBTQ people if elected president.
Well, maybe if elected president, he'll come up with a plan three or four years after he's sworn in?
More than 300 people have been killed in protests in #Iraq since they began in early October. Several are reported to have died after being shot in the face with tear gas canisters, like 26-year-old Safaa al Saray bbc.com/news/av/world-… @BBCWorld VIDEO
#Iraq #StreetArt: Murals of Baghdad: the protest art – in pictures @guardian theguardian.com/global-develop…
In Iraq, the protests continue. AFP reports:
An Iraqi protester was killed on Tuesday in the capital Baghdad and dozens more wounded across the country's restive south as sit-ins turned violent, medic said.
The demonstrator died after being shot by a rubber bullet near Al Ahrar bridge, which has been sealed off by security forces as it leads to a cluster of government buildings on the west bank of River Tigris.
A further 18 demonstrators were wounded near Al Ahrar on Tuesday.
#IraqProtests | Dhi Qar
Unknown groups assault set-in protesters, in front of Dhi Qar oil company, in #Nasiriyah– unverified reports say those are tribal groups.
#IraqJournal
0:41
#IraqProtests | Civil Disobedience
Basri women leading chants, during the students strike.
#Basra
The following sites updated:
