There are not many times I find myself disagreeing with tech central.
This means that if you're from of a Red State, you're 12% more likely to die in Iraq than if you're from a blue state.
I am not arguing with their numbers, but they are suggesting that more people from read states join the military because they have conservative values. While this may be true, it could also be because red states are poorer, have limited employment choices, or because even because of that this writer suggests.
The writer is not wrong, he just is limiting the options he presents.