Re "U.S. Toll in Iraq Reaches 1,000," Sept. 8: There is nothing magic about the number 1,000. It is not a milestone. It is just a number. It rolls off the tongue smoothly. It's easily remembered. It is a convenience for the press and the television media. The 1,000th death in Iraq is no more significant than the 999th or 1,001st -- or the first. The death of any American serviceman is tragic. Will the media arbitrarily choose 2,000 as the next "milestone"? Why not 1,776?
Bill Gourlay
Westlake Village
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One thousand dead can be viewed as too many, and to their families, it is understandable. But if the terrorists succeed in meeting their goals and a global conflict is the result, then we will see hundreds of thousands of dead Americans and countless hundreds of thousands more worldwide. The war on terrorism must be continued vigorously to avoid a world conflict, even if that means 2,000 dead. Which scenario do you really prefer?
Vince Antonino
Los Angeles
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Of the estimated 11,000 Iraqi fatalities, quite a lot are civilian deaths. Why is it that Americans get so wound up on numbers, but only numbers of "ours"? Imagine if our body count included children and innocents? Americans need to open their minds to the really unpleasant task of compassion.
