WHOOPS!

You are correct. Civilian contractor deaths are ~285,
collateral-in-region (Working in Saudi, Jordan, Turkey, Qatar and
elsewhere, dead from specific attacks by al Qaeda on Civilians) exceeds
1000. All 'western' civilian deaths contractor or otherwise in Iraq
also exceeds 1000. Mixed up too many numbers. Don't forget I was ~200
yards from the Oasis/Petroleum Center incidents last year in Al-Khobar
when the (American) wife of a friend of mine was shot up very badly
(she survived), and many were killed.

Point being that none of it was/is necessary, and any positive results
are dubious at best.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA