THE ASSOCIATED PRESS reports that there is a hole in the universe — a big hole.
It is not the ordinary emptiness of space, which is really usually occupied by gas, dust, stars and the mysterious “dark matter” that seems to make up a large portion of the universe. What astronomers have found is a huge expanse of space in which none of those things seems to exist.
How big is the hole? It is 1 billion light-years across. That means it would take 1 billion years for the light from a star on one edge to reach the far edge. In terrestrial measurement, that equals about 6 billion trillion miles: an almost immeasurable expanse of incomprehensible emptiness.
Astronomers deal every day with distances so vast that they seem to squirm away from ordinary human understanding. But lesser number can be just as daunting.
Over the weekend, the AP also reported that the flow of blood in Iraq is accelerating. Although the troop surge seems to have reduced the level of sectarian violence in Baghdad, violence has increased in the outlying areas of the country — to the point where the death toll among Iraqis this year is expected to double last year’s toll. In 2006, the average daily body count was 33. So far this year, it is 62.
Those figures add up quickly. The death toll in all of 2006 was 13,811. This year, the toll has already reached 14,800.
In the past 20 months, Iraq has lost more than 10 times the number of people killed in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
For a nation of fewer than 20 million people, that leaves a big hole in the universe.
treetrunk (anonymous) says...
Since you are an expert on Iraqi at least give the correct information. The population is over 22 million. The death toll is shameful, but consider this: over 116 highway deaths and over 43 murders per day in the USA. Why the big problem with the deaths in Iraqi and no mention of our own death tolls.
We have not been very successful in nation building, but, give our military credit for winning the war with Sadam and working their hearts out in rebuilding a nation. The big hole seems to be with the support from the left.
August 28, 2007 at 5:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CAFEmporia (anonymous) says...
The left would be glad to support this war if it were run with integrity and competence. That is not the case. Support wanes.
August 29, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
treetrunk (anonymous) says...
Who says the situation in Iraqi is run without integrity or competence? Answer: our enemies. Wake up - you are being used. Get Washington politics our of Iraqi and let the military do their job. Stop blaming and start supporting.
August 29, 2007 at 6:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )