Spring Break
Just the facts
A busy college schedule is no reason to be uninformed
Robert Preliasco
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Editorial/Opinion
- < prev Page 2 of 2
- 3,753 American soldiers have died in Iraq since March 19, 2003, according to the Department of Defense.
- From the same source, 439 soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan.
- 27,767 American soldiers have been wounded.
- According to Iraq Body Count, a public database, at least 71,302 Iraqis have died since the start of the U.S. invasion. This figure includes insurgents and loyalists killed by American forces and Iraqi civilians killed in sectarian violence.
- Human Rights Watch estimates that 290,000 people were killed during Saddam Hussein's regime. This does not include casualties from the Iran-Iraq war of 1980 or the invasion of Kuwait.
- The difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims arose after the death of the prophet Muhammad when a successor needed to be chosen. Sunni Muslims believe that spiritual leaders can be elected from a pool of individuals who are not descendents of Muhammad. In Arabic, the word "Sunni" means "one who follows the way of the prophet." Conversely, Shiite Muslims believe that successors should be chosen from Muhammad's own family, those appointed by his family, or those appointed by God. Shiites do not recognize the authority of Muslim leaders and instead trace their own lineage of leaders, or Imams, directly back to Muhammad and those they believe have been appointed by God.
- Shiites are the majority in Iraq but they are a minority in most other Arab nations.
- Iraq's third largest sect is the Kurds, who were the greatest victims under Saddam's regime.
- The newest contender for president is Fred Thompson, an actor and former senator, who entered the race as a Republican last Wednesday.
- The first event of the Presidential nomination process, the Iowa Caucus, will occur on Jan. 14, 2008.
- From the same source, 439 soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan.
- 27,767 American soldiers have been wounded.
- According to Iraq Body Count, a public database, at least 71,302 Iraqis have died since the start of the U.S. invasion. This figure includes insurgents and loyalists killed by American forces and Iraqi civilians killed in sectarian violence.
- Human Rights Watch estimates that 290,000 people were killed during Saddam Hussein's regime. This does not include casualties from the Iran-Iraq war of 1980 or the invasion of Kuwait.
- The difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims arose after the death of the prophet Muhammad when a successor needed to be chosen. Sunni Muslims believe that spiritual leaders can be elected from a pool of individuals who are not descendents of Muhammad. In Arabic, the word "Sunni" means "one who follows the way of the prophet." Conversely, Shiite Muslims believe that successors should be chosen from Muhammad's own family, those appointed by his family, or those appointed by God. Shiites do not recognize the authority of Muslim leaders and instead trace their own lineage of leaders, or Imams, directly back to Muhammad and those they believe have been appointed by God.
- Shiites are the majority in Iraq but they are a minority in most other Arab nations.
- Iraq's third largest sect is the Kurds, who were the greatest victims under Saddam's regime.
- The newest contender for president is Fred Thompson, an actor and former senator, who entered the race as a Republican last Wednesday.
- The first event of the Presidential nomination process, the Iowa Caucus, will occur on Jan. 14, 2008.
