4 years since "Bring 'em on"

Four years ago, the world endured President Bush's bravado when he recklessly announced to the world:

"There are some who feel like ― that the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring ’em on. We've got the force necessary to deal with the security situation.”

Big talk from a man who did everything he could to avoid his own military service during the Vietnam War, occasionally patrolling the skies over the Gulf Coast when he bothered to report for duty at all.

From the National Security Network:

It has been four years since the President declared “bring’em on” in response to the budding insurgency in Iraq. Since that statement, more than 3,300 American troops have been killed and 25,000 have been wounded. Iraqi civilians have suffered tremendously, with four million fleeing their homes and an estimated 35,000 killed. The security situation has only deteriorated further, with the initial insurgency morphing into multiple civil wars and sectarian violence. Incredibly, there are more American troops in Iraq today than were there four years ago when the President made his reckless declaration.

Since the President recklessly declared “bring’em on” more than 3,300 American troops have been killed. Approximately 25,000 American troops have been wounded since that day.

American troop fatalities are up 70% since the surge began. In the four and a half months since Operation Fardh al-Qanoon officially began in Baghdad on February 14 American casualties have averaged almost 3.3 per day, up 70% over the same time period in 2006.

Civilian casualties are in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands. The United Nations estimates that 35,000 civilians were killed in Iraq during 2006 alone. No one really knows how many people have died since the conflict began.

Attacks on American troops and Iraqi Security Forces are still averaging 5,000 per month. In the first four months of 2007 attacks have remained at 2006 levels.

America has been in Iraq longer than it was in World War II. It has been 52 months since military operations in Iraq began. As of July 1, 2007, American troops have been in Iraq for 1,565, days the equivalent of 222 weeks.

Baghdad is still averaging only 5.6 hours of electricity per day. This number represents only 20% of prewar production levels.