This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/magazine/8273547.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Counting the human cost of war | Counting the human cost of war |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| How should we think of the sacrifice by British soldiers in Afghanistan? So far, 217 men and women have been killed, many more injured. In his regular column, Michael Blastland reflects on the measure of the dead. | How should we think of the sacrifice by British soldiers in Afghanistan? So far, 217 men and women have been killed, many more injured. In his regular column, Michael Blastland reflects on the measure of the dead. |
| The casualties rise in Afghanistan. In newspapers and online, you can find a wall of photographed faces, read the names and look into the eyes of every soldier who has died in the conflict. Can there ever be an objective measure of cost, human or otherwise? This slideshow offers some attempts at an answer. | The casualties rise in Afghanistan. In newspapers and online, you can find a wall of photographed faces, read the names and look into the eyes of every soldier who has died in the conflict. Can there ever be an objective measure of cost, human or otherwise? This slideshow offers some attempts at an answer. |
| Every number raises questions. Some will ask where are the numbers for coalition forces, or Afghans who fought with them, or for civilians. | Every number raises questions. Some will ask where are the numbers for coalition forces, or Afghans who fought with them, or for civilians. |
| Others will wonder if it's right to compare the casualty rate for the front line in Afghanistan with the overall casualty rate in World War II, or, if we really want to make such a comparison, should it be between the front lines of both? | Others will wonder if it's right to compare the casualty rate for the front line in Afghanistan with the overall casualty rate in World War II, or, if we really want to make such a comparison, should it be between the front lines of both? |
| But does that mean we measure Afghanistan against the terrible losses of the First Airborne Division at Arnhem, to take one of many possible examples? Or is the question ridiculous, even offensive? Rates of casualty take no account of the changing composition of an army, once far fuller of administrative staff than now. | But does that mean we measure Afghanistan against the terrible losses of the First Airborne Division at Arnhem, to take one of many possible examples? Or is the question ridiculous, even offensive? Rates of casualty take no account of the changing composition of an army, once far fuller of administrative staff than now. |
| If we say that other wars should be our context, which ones? Maybe Cyprus or Malaysia are better comparisons. | |
| Dan Todman, a social historian at Queen Mary University, London, who has researched the figures for WWII, says casualty statistics are fraught with problems. See his blog here. | Dan Todman, a social historian at Queen Mary University, London, who has researched the figures for WWII, says casualty statistics are fraught with problems. See his blog here. |
| Another suggestion: if we say that the cost should be compared with the prize, what is the prize? Will it be the defeat of terrorism? How do we count the threat of continued terror attacks? On the Today programme on Radio 4 recently, the opinion pollster Bob Worcestor said no-one put the Afghanistan losses into context, and that we should compare these with those killed in the 11 September attacks. | Another suggestion: if we say that the cost should be compared with the prize, what is the prize? Will it be the defeat of terrorism? How do we count the threat of continued terror attacks? On the Today programme on Radio 4 recently, the opinion pollster Bob Worcestor said no-one put the Afghanistan losses into context, and that we should compare these with those killed in the 11 September attacks. |
| Dan Todman also wonders if soldiers have a sense of collective loss for the whole operation, or if they simply feel the terrible loss of a friend and colleague. Perhaps what matters is not the big numbers, but the one, among the handful who knew him or her best, or his or her family. | Dan Todman also wonders if soldiers have a sense of collective loss for the whole operation, or if they simply feel the terrible loss of a friend and colleague. Perhaps what matters is not the big numbers, but the one, among the handful who knew him or her best, or his or her family. |
| Journalists are often told to provide context, but which context? There isn't one answer. Data matters, but often only when we know which question we want answered. And the question we ask is seldom in search of an objective measure of cost, human or otherwise, but an expression of what we think important, of our values and whatever politics of the war we support or oppose. | Journalists are often told to provide context, but which context? There isn't one answer. Data matters, but often only when we know which question we want answered. And the question we ask is seldom in search of an objective measure of cost, human or otherwise, but an expression of what we think important, of our values and whatever politics of the war we support or oppose. |
| Readers might like to tell us how they would measure the human cost of war. For in the end, context starts within each of us as much as in any measurable comparison. | Readers might like to tell us how they would measure the human cost of war. For in the end, context starts within each of us as much as in any measurable comparison. |
| Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |