Editorial: War in Iraq sacrifices young Army

Over 700 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq since the start of
the U.S.-led invasion.

Of those killed, roughly 40 percent of the dead were between the
ages of 18 and 24. They could have been UCLA students.

Instead, these young men and women gave their lives because
President Bush decided a war was needed.

And more than a year after the first bombs dropped, it is hard
to see why attacking Iraq was vital for U.S. security. The promised
weapons of mass destruction have yet to be found, and Saddam
Hussein’s links to al-Qaeda were tenuous at best.

Bush’s war ““ and his role in the war ““ stands
in contrast with the war his father participated in 60 years ago.
When the United States resolved to fight and win World War II, the
young men called to arms knew they were fighting a real threat
““ global domination by Nazi Germany and Imperial
Japan.

People from all walks of life served on the front lines of that
war: Bushes and Kennedys fought next to Smiths and Does.

About 400,000 Americans lost their lives in that war, but at
least they knew what they were fighting for.

Today, war seems much cleaner. With its technological and
tactical superiority, the United States can kill enemy leaders and
capture vast swaths of land with many fewer causalities on its
side. In terms of numbers, the enemy suffers less also.

That makes it easier to convince people to go to war. When CNN
plays image after image of “smart” bombs falling from
the sky onto their targets, it can be easy to forget that for the
people on the ground, war is not so sterile. (War is certainly not
like the video game subtly used by the Army for recruitment where
you can “re-spawn” every time you are killed.)

Death is not the only consequence. Suicide, depression and
accidents affect more soldiers than do enemy bullets. Sadly, many
of the younger soldiers in Iraq probably never expected to fight in
a place like Iraq. Many people join the military attracted by
promises of money for college, the chance to learn vocational
skills, or simply the prospect of a stable life and job.

The Army’s demographics show that the top socioeconomic
quartile of the United States is significantly underrepresented in
the armed forces. Similarly, black and Latino soldiers are more
likely to serve in lower enlisted ranks ““ i.e. the front
lines ““ compared to white soldiers.

The overall appearance of today’s all-volunteer Army is
young and relatively poor. So it should be no surprise that 40
percent of those killed in Iraq were people between the ages of 18
and 24, many of whom probably hoped to go to college once their
tours were over.

Fighting and winning a war is a complicated, costly endeavor.
Unless the objectives are clear, the strategy assured, and the
indeed dire, war never makes sense.

But with a volunteer Army well-staffed often by people with few
other options in life, the likes of President Bush and members of
the U.S. Congress aren’t required to think about whether they
would support a war if it means their son or daughter would be
going. The well-to-do don’t often stand in harm’s
way.

So people in their late teens and early 20s who are not lucky
enough to be at places like UCLA die. Far too few ask why that has
to be.