The Cost of Waiting

Category: Iraq: The Present Crisis

Sunday, September 16, 2007

On June 3, I wrote in this space about the tragedy of the "let's wait for the Petraeus report!" approach:

The real reason for the delay, of course, is that it lets our “leaders” weasel out of making a tough decision for awhile, and hope that Events will somehow bail them out in the meantime.

I call this “pathetic” because (a) everyone knows what the conclusion will be in the end, delay or no, and (b) each day the decision is delayed, U.S. soldiers are dying for a cause that their leaders have already given up on.

Well, General Petraeus finally came before Congress last week, on September 10 and 11.

So how many soldiers died while our political class was twiddling its thumbs waiting for Petraeus? Here's the complete list of confirmed U.S. military fatalities in Iraq for the period between June 4 and September 9 (courtesy of icasualties.org), with causes and dates of death: 

• Private 1st Class Justin A. Verdeja, hostile fire, June 5
• Sergeant Andrews J. Higgins, hostile fire, June 5
• Technical Sergeant Ryan A. Balmer, IED attack, June 5
• Staff Sergeant Matthew J. Kuglics, IED attack, June 5
• Staff Sergeant Timothy B. Cole Jr., IED attack, June 6
• Sergeant Matthew Soper, IED attack, June 6
• Private 1st Class Shawn D. Gajdos, IED attack and hostile fire, June 6
• Sergeant 1st Class Greg L. Sutton, IED attack, June 6
• Senior Airman William N. Newman, IED attack, June 7
• Sergeant Cory M. Endlich, hostile fire, June 9
• Private Scott A. Miller, hostile fire, June 9
• Airman 1st Class Eric M. Barnes, IED attack, June 9
• Staff Sergeant Brian M. Long, explosion, June 10
• Specialist Adam G. Herold, IED attack, June 10
• Corporal Meresebang Ngiraked, IED attack, June 10
• Corporal Llythaniele Fender, IED attack, June 10
• Private 1st Class Cameron K. Payne, IED attack, June 11
• Lieutenant Colonel Glade L. Felix, non-hostile, June 11
• Private 1st Class William C. Johnson, IED attack, June 12
• Lance Corporal Johnny R. Strong, hostile fire, June 12
• Specialist Damon G. Legrand, RPG attack, June 12
• Private 1st Class Casey S. Carriker, non-hostile, June 13
• Specialist Josiah W. Hollopeter, hostile fire, June 14
• Specialist Val John Borm, IED attack, June 14
• Specialist Farid Elazzouzi, IED attack, June 14
• Sergeant Derek T. Roberts, IED attack, June 14
• Staff Sergeant Michael A. Bechert, IED attack, June 14
• Specialist Dustin R. Brisky, explosion (non-hostile), June 14
• Sergeant Richard K. Parker, IED attack, June 14
• Major Kevin H. Sonnenberg, jet crash, June 15
• Private 1st Class Michael Patrick Pittman, IED attack and hostile fire, June 15
• Specialist Grass. Zachary A., IED attack, June 16
• Sergeant Danny R. Soto, IED attack, June 16
• 1st Lieutenant Frank B. Walkup IV, IED attack, June 16
• Private 1st Class David A. Wilkey Jr., IED attack, June 18
• Sergeant Eric L. Snell, hostile fire, June 18
• Private 1st Class Larry Parks Jr., IED attack, June 18
• Private 1st Class Jacob T. Tracy, IED attack, June 18
• Sergeant Frank M. Sandoval, hostile fire, June 18
• Specialist Darryl W. Linder, IED attack, June 19
• Private 1st Class Joshua S. Modgling, IED attack, June 19
• Sergeant 1st Class William A. Zapfe, IED attack, June 19
• Staff Sergeant Stephen J. Wilson, hostile fire, June 20
• Sergeant Shawn P. Martin, hostile fire, June 20
• Staff Sergeant Darren P. Hubbell, IED attack, June 20
• Private 1st Class David J. Bentz III, IED attack, June 20
• Specialist Joe G. Charfauros Jr., IED attack, June 20
• Major Sid W. Brookshire, IED attack, June 20
• Private 1st Class Thomas R. Leemhuis, IED attack, June 21
• Private 1st Class Anthony D. Hebert, IED attack, June 21
• Sergeant Ryan M. Wood, IED attack, June 21
• Private 1st Class Daniel J. Agami, IED attack, June 21
• Sergeant Alphonso J. Montenegro II, IED attack, June 21
• Private 1st Class Raymond N. Spencer Jr., IED attack and hostile fire, June 21
• Specialist Karen N. Clifton, RPG attack, June 21
• Private 1st Class Jerimiah J. Veitch, RPG attack, June 21
• Specialist Dominic N. Rodriguez, non-hostile, June 22
• Specialist Carter A. Gamble Jr., hostile fire, June 22
• Sergeant Michael J. Montpetit, non-hostile, June 22
• Private 1st Class Shane M. Stinson, IED attack and hostile fire, June 23
• Sergeant Chris Davis, IED attack and hostile fire, June 23
• Staff Sergeant Michael D. Moody Jr., IED attack and hostile fire, June 23
• Specialist Derek A. Calhoun, IED attack, June 23
• Sergeant Jimy M. Malone, IED attack, June 23
• Sergeant Joel A. House, IED attack, June 23
• Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan, IED attack, June 23
• Sergeant William E. Brown, hostile fire, June 23
• Airman 1st Class Jason D. Nathan, IED attack, June 23
• Sergeant Joel A. Dahl, hostile fire, June 23
• Specialist Joseph P. Kenny, non-hostile, June 23
• Specialist Eric C. Palmer, hostile fire, June 24
• Private 1st Class Henry G. Byrd III, non-hostile, June 24
• Private 1st Class Andre Craig Jr., IED attack, June 25
• Sergeant Trista L. Moretti, rocket attack, June 25
• Sergeant 1st Class Nathan L. Winder, hostile fire, June 26
• Corporal Derek C. Dixon, hostile fire, June 26
• Staff Sergeant Daniel A. Newsome, IED attack, June 27
• Private 1st Class Cory F. Hiltz, IED attack and hostile fire, June 28
• Specialist Dustin L. Workman II, IED attack and hostile fire, June 28
• Sergeant Giann C. Joya Mendoza, IED attack and hostile fire, June 28
• Sergeant Michael J. Martinez, IED attack and hostile fire, June 28
• Sergeant Shin W. Kim, IED attack and hostile fire, June 28
• Sergeant William W. Crow Jr., IED attack, June 28
• Specialist James L. Adair, IED attack, June 29
• Staff Sergeant Robb L. Rolfing, hostile fire, June 30
• Private 1st Class Jonathan M. Rossi, IED attack and hostile fire, July 1
• Specialist Victor A. Garcia, IED attack and hostile fire, July 1
• Sergeant 1st Class Raymond R. Buchan, hostile fire, July 1
• Staff Sergeant Michael L. Ruoff Jr., hostile fire, July 1
• Lance Corporal Juan M. Garcia Schill, hostile fire, July 1
• Lance Corporal William C. Chambers, non-hostile, July 1
• Lance Corporal Jeremy L. Tinnel, non-hostile, July 1
• 1st Lieutenant Christopher N. Rutherford, IED attack, July 2
• Private 1st Class Steven A. Davis, grenade, July 4
• Chief Warrant Officer Scott A.M. Oswell, helicopter crash, July 4
• Private 1st Class Andrew T. Engstrom, non-hostile, July 4
• Specialist Michelle R. Ring, mortar attack, July 5
• Specialist Anthony M.K. Vinnedge, non-hostile, July 5
• Sergeant Keith A. Kline, IED attack, July 5
• Major James M. Ahearn, IED attack, July 5
• Lance Corporal Steven A. Stacy, hostile fire, July 5
• Corporal Jeremy D. Allbaugh, hostile fire, July 5
• Specialist Jeremy L. Stacey, IED attack, July 5
• Sergeant Eric A. Lill, IED attack, July 6
• Corporal Kory D. Wiens, IED attack, July 6
• Private 1st Class Bruce C. Salazar Jr., IED attack, July 6
• Sergeant Gene L. Lamie, IED attack, July 6
• Private 1st Class Le Ron A. Wilson, IED attack, July 6
• Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Phillip Daugherty, IED attack, July 6
• Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Richard McRill, IED attack, July 6
• Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Dale Lewis, IED attack, July 6
• Colonel Jon M. Lockey, non-hostile, July 6
• Specialist Roberto J. Causor Jr., IED attack, July 7
• Private 1st Class Jason E. Dore, IED attack, July 8
• Captain Maria I. Ortiz, mortar attack, July 10
• 1st Sergeant Jeffrey R. McKinney, non-hostile, July 11
• Sergeant Courtney T. Johnson, hostile fire, July 11
• Sergeant Allen A. Greka, land mine, July 14
• Private 1st Class Christopher D. Kube, IED attack, July 14
• Sergeant John R. Massey, IED attack, July 14
• Private 1st Class Benjamin B. Bartlett Jr., RPG attack, July 15
• Specialist Eric M. Holke, non-hostile, July 15
• Specialist Robert D. Varga, non-hostile, July 15
• Lance Corporal Shawn V. Starkovich, non-hostile, July 16
• Private 1st Class Brandon K. Bobb, IED attack, July 17
• Private 1st Class Ron J. Joshua Jr., IED attack, July 17
• Sergeant Nathan S. Barnes, IED attack, July 17
• Chief Petty Officer Patrick L. Wade, IED attack, July 17
• Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey L. Chaney, IED attack, July 17
• Private 1st Class James J. Harrelson, IED attack, July 17
• Specialist Zachary Clouser, IED attack and hostile fire, July 18
• Specialist Daniel E. Gomez, IED attack and hostile fire, July 18
• Specialist Richard Gilmore III, IED attack and hostile fire, July 18
• Sergeant 1st Class Luis E. Gutierrez-Rosales, IED attack and hostile fire, July 18
• Sergeant Ronald L. Coffelt, IED attack, July 19
• Corporal Brandon M. Craig, IED attack, July 19
• Corporal Rhett A. Butler, IED attack, July 20
• Sergeant Jacob S. Schmuecker, IED attack, July 21
• Corporal Christopher G. Scherer, hostile fire, July 21
• Sergeant Shawn G. Adams, IED attack, July 22
• Lance Corporal Bobby L. Twitty, non-hostile, July 22
• Sergeant Courtney D. Finch, non-hostile, July 24
• Corporal Matthew R. Zindars, IED attack, July 24
• Corporal James H. McRae, IED attack, July 24
• Lance Corporal Robert A. Lynch, IED attack, July 24
• Hospitalman Daniel S. Noble, hostile fire, July 24
• Staff Sergeant Joshua P. Mattero, IED attack, July 24
• Specialist Camy Florexil, IED attack, July 24
• Specialist Daniel A. Leckel, hostile fire, July 25
• Specialist Jaime Rodriguez Jr., IED attack, July 26
• Specialist Charles E. Bilbrey Jr., IED attack, July 26
• Sergeant William R. Howdeshell, IED attack, July 26
• Private Michael A. Baloga, IED attack, July 26
• Private 1st Class Cody C. Grater, hostile fire, July 29
• Staff Sergeant Wilberto Suliveras, hostile fire, July 29
• Sergeant Jack D. Richards, IED attack, July 29
• Corporal Sean A. Stokes, hostile fire, July 30
• Corporal Jason M. Kessler, RPG attack, July 30
• Private 1st Class Alfred H. Jairala, IED attack, July 31
• Private 1st Class Charles T. Heinlein Jr., IED attack, July 31
• Specialist Zachariah J. Gonzalez, IED attack, July 31
• Sergeant Stephen R. Maddies, hostile fire, July 31
• Specialist Daniel F. Reyes, hostile fire, July 31
• Sergeant Bradley W. Marshall, hostile fire, July 31
• Sergeant 1st Class Travis S. Bachman, IED attack, August 1
• Master Sergent Julian Ingles Rios, RPG attack, August 2
• Specialist Eric D. Salinas, IED attack, August 2
• Specialist Cristian Rojas-Gallego, IED attack, August 2
• Staff Sergeant Fernando Santos, IED attack, August 2
• Lance Corporal Cristian Vasquez, hostile fire, August 2
• Private 1st Class Matthew M. Murchison, IED attack, August 4
• Specialist Braden J. Long, RPG attack, August 4
• Private 1st Class Jaron D. Holliday, IED attack, August 4
• Corporal Jason K. Lafleur, IED attack, August 4
• Sergeant Dustin S. Wakeman, IED attack, August 4
• Specialist Charles E. Leonard Jr., RPG attack, August 5
• Specialist Blackwell. Justin R., hostile fire, August 5
• Private Jeremy S. Bohannon, hostile fire, August 5
• Specialist Kareem R. Khan, IED attack, August 6
• Corporal Juan M. Alcantara, IED attack, August 6
• Sergeant Nicholas A. Gummersall, IED attack, August 6
• Staff Sergeant Jacob M. Thompson, IED attack, August 6
• Specialist Christopher T. Neiberger, IED attack, August 6
• Sergeant Jon E. Bonnell Jr., hostile fire, August 7
• Corporal Reynold Armand, non-hostile, August 7
• Specialist Donald M. Young, IED attack, August 8
• Staff Sergeant Alicia A. Birchett, non-hostile, August 8
• Sergeant Michael E. Tayaotao, hostile fire, August 9
• Staff Sergeant Joan J. Duran, non-hostile, August 10
• Private 1st Class William L. Edwards, sniper fire, August 11
• Specialist Justin O. Penrod, IED attack, August 11
• Sergeant Andrew W. Lancaster, IED attack, August 11
• Sergeant Scott L. Kirkpatrick, IED attack, August 11
• Staff Sergeant William D. Scates, IED attack, August 11
• Specialist Alun R. Howells, hostile fire, August 13
• Private 1st Class Paulomarko U. Pacificador, IED attack, August 13
• Private 1st Class Juan M. Lopez Jr., IED attack, August 13
• Staff Sergeant Eric D. Cottrell, IED attack, August 13
• Private 1st Class Shawn D. Hensel, hostile fire, August 14
• Specialist Steven R. Jewell, helicopter crash, August 14
• Staff Sergeant Stanley B. Reynolds, helicopter crash, August 14
• Staff Sergeant Sean P. Fisher, helicopter crash, August 14
• Chief Warrant Officer Jackie L. McFarlane Jr, helicopter crash, August 14
• Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Johnson, helicopter crash, August 14
• Specialist Zandra T. Walker, hostile fire, August 15
• Sergeant Princess C. Samuels, hostile fire, August 15
• Staff Sergeant Robert R. Pirelli, hostile fire, August 15
• Specialist Kamisha J. Block, non-hostile, August 16
• Staff Sergeant Paul B. Norris, non-hostile, August 16
• Corporal Willard M. Powell, hostile fire, August 16
• 1st Lieutenant Jonathan W. Edds, IED attack and hostile fire, August 17
• Captain Michael S. Fielder, non-hostile, August 19
• Private 1st Class Donovan D. Witham, IED attack, August 21
• Staff Sergeant Sandy R. Britt, IED attack, August 21
• Corporal Nathan C. Hubbard, helicopter crash, August 22
• Corporal Joshua S. Harmon, helicopter crash, August 22
• Specialist Michael A. Hook, helicopter crash, August 22
• Corporal Phillip J. Brodnick, helicopter crash, August 22
• Specialist Jessy G. Pollard, helicopter crash, August 22
• Sergeant Garrett I. McLead, helicopter crash, August 22
• Staff Sergeant Jason L. Paton, helicopter crash, August 22
• Captain Derek A. Dobogai, helicopter crash, August 22
• Specialist Tyler R. Seideman, helicopter crash, August 22
• Corporal Jeremy P. Bouffard, helicopter crash, August 22
• Specialist Rickey L. Bell, helicopter crash, August 22
• Captain Corry Paul Tyler, helicopter crash, August 22
• Chief Warrant Officer Paul J. Flynn, helicopter crash, August 22
• Sergeant Matthew L. Tallman, helicopter crash, August 22
• Private 1st Class Omar E. Torres, IED attack, August 22
• Private 1st Class Edgar E. Cardenas, IED attack, August 22
• Sergeant 1st Class Adrian M. Elizalde, IED attack, August 23
• Sergeant 1st Class Michael J. Tully, IED attack, August 23
• Sergeant 1st Class David A. Heringes, IED attack, August 24
• Lance Corporal Matthew S. Medlicott, hostile fire, August 25
• Lance Corporal Rogelio A. Ramirez, hostile fire, August 26
• Specialist Tracy C. Willis, hostile fire, August 26
• Sergeant Joshua L. Morley, hostile fire, August 26
• Sergeant James S. Collins Jr., hostile fire, August 28
• Captain Erick M. Foster, IED attack, August 29
• Corporal John C. Tanner, hostile fire, August 29
• Specialist Edward L. Brooks, IED attack, August 29
• Staff Sergeant Andrew P Nelson, hostile fire, August 29
• Private 1st Class Justin T. Sanders, non-hostile, August 29
• Specialist Travis M. Virgadamo, non-hostile, August 30
• Staff Sergeant Jason M. Butkus, RPG attack, August 30
• Sergeant 1st Class Daniel E. Scheibner, IED attack, August 30
• Sergeant Kevin A. Gilbertson, hostile fire, August 31
• Specialist Christopher G. Patton, non-hostile, September 1
• Staff Sergeant Delmar White, IED attack, September 2
• Private Randol S. Shelton, IED attack, September 4
• Specialist David J. Lane, IED attack, September 4
• Sergeant Joel L. Murray, IED attack, September 4
• Specialist Rodney J. Johnson, IED attack, September 4
• Specialist Keith A. Nurnberg, hostile fire, September 5
• Corporal Javier G. Paredes, RPG attack, September 5
• Private 1st Class Dane R. Balcon, IED attack, September 5
• Corporal William T. Warford III, IED attack, September 5
• Sergeant 1st Class David A. Cooper Jr., non-hostile, September 5
• Sergeant Michael J. Yarbrough, hostile fire, September 6
• Staff Sergeant John C. Stock, hostile fire, September 6
• Corporal Bryan J. Scripsick, hostile fire, September 6
• Corporal Christopher L. Poole Jr., suicide truck bomb, September 6
• Sergeant Lee C. Wilson, IED attack, September 6
• Specialist Jason J. Hernandez, IED attack, September 7
• Specialist Thomas L. Hilbert, IED attack, September 7
• Captain Drew N. Jensen, hostile fire, September 7
• Lance Corporal Lance M. Clark, non-hostile, September 7
• Specialist Marisol Heredia, non-hostile, September 7
• Corporal Ryan A. Woodward, hostile fire, September 8
• Staff Sergeant Courtney Hollinsworth, IED and RPG attack, September 9
• Sergeant Alexander U. Gagalac, RPG attack, September 9

That's 271 more soldiers who gave their lives while Washington waited for Petraeus. So if you were wondering what the cost in blood would be for punting this debate into the fall -- now you know.