Comments on: FACT CHECK: Right Wing Falsely Claims Iraq Is Safer Than Washington, D.C. http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:09:42 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: "support the troops" - TeakDoor.com - The Thailand Forum http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-2357371 "support the troops" - TeakDoor.com - The Thailand Forum Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:03:21 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-2357371 [...] 1) The King report uses 2002 data for Washington, D.C., finding a violent casualty rate of 45.9 deaths per 100,000 people. That number is badly outdated. Using the most recent 2004 data, the violent casualty rate in D.C. is 35.8 deaths per 100,000. There were 198 homicides total in D.C. for the entire year. 2) According to Pentagon’s own data released today, there have been 94 violent casualties per day in Iraq between February and May of 2006. (see p.33). That translates into 34,310 deaths per year in Iraq. For an Iraqi population of about 26.7 million, plus another 150,000 coalition forces, the violent casualty rate in Iraq is 128 deaths per 100,000. UPDATE: The Pentagon data includes injuries as well as deaths so is not directly comparable. The Brookings Institute, however, estimates an annualized murder rate of 95 per 100,000 Iraqis in Bagdad. Brookings notes this number may be “too low since many murder victims are never taken to the morgue, but buried quickly and privately and therefore never recorded in official tallies.” 3) Lastly, the King report is trying to conflate the data for one urban area in the U.S. with the entire country of Iraq. As OpinionJournal writes, “The comparison with U.S. cities poses a problem of scale. Just as some municipalities here have high concentrations of crime, Baghdad and some other Iraqi cities have high concentrations of military, guerrilla and terrorist activity. A comparison of Baghdad with Los Angeles or a similarly sprawling U.S. city would be more enlightening than a comparison of Iraq as a whole with cities of well under a million people.” Think Progress » FACT CHECK: Right Wing Falsely Claims Iraq Is Safer Than Washington, D.C. [...] [...] 1) The King report uses 2002 data for Washington, D.C., finding a violent casualty rate of 45.9 deaths per 100,000 people. That number is badly outdated. Using the most recent 2004 data, the violent casualty rate in D.C. is 35.8 deaths per 100,000. There were 198 homicides total in D.C. for the entire year. 2) According to Pentagon’s own data released today, there have been 94 violent casualties per day in Iraq between February and May of 2006. (see p.33). That translates into 34,310 deaths per year in Iraq. For an Iraqi population of about 26.7 million, plus another 150,000 coalition forces, the violent casualty rate in Iraq is 128 deaths per 100,000. UPDATE: The Pentagon data includes injuries as well as deaths so is not directly comparable. The Brookings Institute, however, estimates an annualized murder rate of 95 per 100,000 Iraqis in Bagdad. Brookings notes this number may be “too low since many murder victims are never taken to the morgue, but buried quickly and privately and therefore never recorded in official tallies.” 3) Lastly, the King report is trying to conflate the data for one urban area in the U.S. with the entire country of Iraq. As OpinionJournal writes, “The comparison with U.S. cities poses a problem of scale. Just as some municipalities here have high concentrations of crime, Baghdad and some other Iraqi cities have high concentrations of military, guerrilla and terrorist activity. A comparison of Baghdad with Los Angeles or a similarly sprawling U.S. city would be more enlightening than a comparison of Iraq as a whole with cities of well under a million people.” Think Progress » FACT CHECK: Right Wing Falsely Claims Iraq Is Safer Than Washington, D.C. [...]

]]> By: Intelligent American http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-1461396 Intelligent American Tue, 16 Jan 2007 08:32:44 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-1461396 And did it occur to YOU, author of post 160 -- the holier than all, that YOU should check YOUR facts and come out to view reality from behind the self-righteous smoke and mirrors that stupify you? THE MURDER THAT IS ABORTION has decreased by exactly how much under the political liars with whom you associate? Hmm? Exactly how many women and doctors participating in those deaths have you sentenced to death for murder? Where is your legislation for the death of those you call murderers? Or would that be politically inexpedient? To affect the outcome, you are nothing. Truly nothing other than someone to tow the polical line that you have swallowed whole. You kid yourself as to the moral superiority of those who feed you the lies you consume with blissful ignorance. You and your ilk controlled all branches of government and the powerful FOX propaganda machine, yet how successful were you at preserving the sanctity of those unborn lives? Why are you proud of the continued murder, not to mention the additional murder of men, women and children of another land who were snuffed out and mutilated by this immoral war. What about the sanctity of those lives? What about unborn children in the wombs of those women? What is YOUR excuse for the inaction that is the speck in your brother's eye. Judge not, lest YOU be judged. And did it occur to YOU, author of post 160 — the holier than all, that YOU should check YOUR facts and come out to view reality from behind the self-righteous smoke and mirrors that stupify you?

THE MURDER THAT IS ABORTION has decreased by exactly how much under the political liars with whom you associate? Hmm?

Exactly how many women and doctors participating in those deaths have you sentenced to death for murder? Where is your legislation for the death of those you call murderers? Or would that be politically inexpedient? To affect the outcome, you are nothing. Truly nothing other than someone to tow the polical line that you have swallowed whole. You kid yourself as to the moral superiority of those who feed you the lies you consume with blissful ignorance.

You and your ilk controlled all branches of government and the powerful FOX propaganda machine, yet how successful were you at preserving the sanctity of those unborn lives? Why are you proud of the continued murder, not to mention the additional murder of men, women and children of another land who were snuffed out and mutilated by this immoral war. What about the sanctity of those lives? What about unborn children in the wombs of those women?

What is YOUR excuse for the inaction that is the speck in your brother’s eye.

Judge not, lest YOU be judged.

]]> By: Proud American http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-1422476 Proud American Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:05:45 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-1422476 Did it occur to anyone of you who love to spew your hate for Bush that your "fact" check actually backed up the report by Rep. King. The difference is that in Iraq, the civilians are going about their day in a war zone. This is a war zone, post Saddam because of "insurgents" from countries other than Iraq (i.e. Iran, Syria, Afghanistan). What is your excuse for the "war zones" in our inner cities? 27.51 is less than 35.8 deaths per 100,000. Talk about fuzzy math. Keep drinking your lattes, and patting yourselves on the back for being so intelligent, all the while your aborting your voting population. Which brings up another question, why is it that an unborn child being mutilated isn't considered a violent death. Did it occur to anyone of you who love to spew your hate for Bush that your “fact” check actually backed up the report by Rep. King. The difference is that in Iraq, the civilians are going about their day in a war zone. This is a war zone, post Saddam because of “insurgents” from countries other than Iraq (i.e. Iran, Syria, Afghanistan). What is your excuse for the “war zones” in our inner cities? 27.51 is less than 35.8 deaths per 100,000. Talk about fuzzy math. Keep drinking your lattes, and patting yourselves on the back for being so intelligent, all the while your aborting your voting population. Which brings up another question, why is it that an unborn child being mutilated isn’t considered a violent death.

]]> By: GOP flip flops on Iraq: now “too much violence…” « Over the line, Smokey! http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-1343483 GOP flip flops on Iraq: now “too much violence…” « Over the line, Smokey! Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:40:41 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-1343483 [...] After years of complaining about the “liberal media” not getting out “the good news” on Iraq, and pooh-poohing the violence/civil war, we know have poor Lindsey “rug shopper” Graham telling us that “You’re not going to have a political solution with this much violence,” Republican Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina told ABC’s “This Week” on Dec. 24. “So the surge of troops is, I think, very necessary. Additional combat capability co-joined with political reform will be successful.” [...] [...] After years of complaining about the “liberal media” not getting out “the good news” on Iraq, and pooh-poohing the violence/civil war, we know have poor Lindsey “rug shopper” Graham telling us that “You’re not going to have a political solution with this much violence,” Republican Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina told ABC’s “This Week” on Dec. 24. “So the surge of troops is, I think, very necessary. Additional combat capability co-joined with political reform will be successful.” [...]

]]> By: democra-she http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-605934 democra-she Sat, 10 Jun 2006 02:20:28 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-605934 http://blog.peakdems.org/2006/06/iraq-is-safer-than-calculation-with.html Country of Iraq, 2005: 48.4 violent civilian deaths per 100,000 population Baghdad, 2005: 85.2 violent civilian deaths per 100,000 population Bunch of truth-impaired so-called journalists don't even bother to look up the figures and do the calculation. Given King's previous pronouncements, that amounts to "negligent veritacide." http://blog.peakdems.org/2006/06/iraq-is-safer-than-calculation-with.html

Country of Iraq, 2005: 48.4 violent civilian deaths per 100,000 population

Baghdad, 2005: 85.2 violent civilian deaths per 100,000 population

Bunch of truth-impaired so-called journalists don’t even bother to look up the figures and do the calculation. Given King’s previous pronouncements, that amounts to “negligent veritacide.”

]]> By: KJ Lovell http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-590773 KJ Lovell Fri, 02 Jun 2006 13:23:11 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590773 Bloodiest month: UK suffers largest post-war losses In May, 11 Britons were killed in Iraq. These are the worst losses since the war ended, prompting more calls for a British withdrawal By Ian Herbert and Ben Russell Published: 31 May 2006 <strong>It would seem that the last remaining real journalists on the planet didn't get the REICH-Wing's memo of Iraq being the safest and happiest place on the planet.</strong> Bloodiest month: UK suffers largest post-war losses
In May, 11 Britons were killed in Iraq. These are the worst losses since the war ended, prompting more calls for a British withdrawal
By Ian Herbert and Ben Russell
Published: 31 May 2006

It would seem that the last remaining real journalists on the planet didn’t get the REICH-Wing’s memo of Iraq being the safest and happiest place on the planet.

]]> By: Shannon http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-590360 Shannon Fri, 02 Jun 2006 05:44:14 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590360 "[sarcastic] Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." - Krist Novoselic “[sarcastic] Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” – Krist Novoselic

]]> By: KJ Lovell http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-590208 KJ Lovell Fri, 02 Jun 2006 03:15:59 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590208 Invading soldiers dragging people from their homes and executing them. Invading soldiers breaking into homes and executing civilians in cold blood, including children. <strong>Nazis in 1940's? No! Americans in 21st century SAFE Iraq.</strong> How would you feel if you couldn't trust those you greeted as liberators, and couldn't trust the police, nor could you trust the armed thugs? <strong>We're killing civilians over there, so we don't have to count their votes over here - thanks dumbya</strong> Invading soldiers dragging people from their homes and executing them. Invading soldiers breaking into homes and executing civilians in cold blood, including children.

Nazis in 1940’s? No! Americans in 21st century SAFE Iraq.

How would you feel if you couldn’t trust those you greeted as liberators, and couldn’t trust the police, nor could you trust the armed thugs?

We’re killing civilians over there, so we don’t have to count their votes over here – thanks dumbya

]]> By: FLAVIUS WORFEUS http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-590126 FLAVIUS WORFEUS Fri, 02 Jun 2006 02:09:11 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590126 This one happened in Hamandiyah in April of this year. It is important to note that the marines involved in this murder have ALL been CHARGED, and are under ARREST and imprisoned here in a US Brig. This one happened in Hamandiyah in April of this year.

It is important to note that the marines involved in this murder have ALL been CHARGED, and are under ARREST and imprisoned here in a US Brig.

]]> By: FLAVIUS WORFEUS http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-590124 FLAVIUS WORFEUS Fri, 02 Jun 2006 02:07:17 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590124 Yes, just a litte kpinncacle. ----- Breaking NEWS. Another murder by Marines in Iraq in April of this year. The Marines apparently pulled a man from his home and murdered him. Then they made his body look like an insurgent. This is SEPERATE from the Haditha incident. Yes, just a litte kpinncacle.

—–

Breaking NEWS.

Another murder by Marines in Iraq in April of this year.

The Marines apparently pulled a man from his home and murdered him.

Then they made his body look like an insurgent.

This is SEPERATE from the Haditha incident.

]]> By: ktpinnacle http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-590108 ktpinnacle Fri, 02 Jun 2006 02:01:25 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590108 Try this one for scale: If Iraq is on a trend for 35,000 violent (occupation-related) deaths this year for a population of approximately 25 million people, that would equate to 350,000 violent deaths in this country with a population approximately 10 times as great. Think we'd be a little bit pissed about that? Try this one for scale:

If Iraq is on a trend for 35,000 violent (occupation-related) deaths this year for a population of approximately 25 million people, that would equate to 350,000 violent deaths in this country with a population approximately 10 times as great.

Think we’d be a little bit pissed about that?

]]> By: FLAVIUS WORFEUS http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-4/#comment-590102 FLAVIUS WORFEUS Fri, 02 Jun 2006 01:57:21 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590102 Our troops Doug? What about us? I mean, DC has a population of about half a million, and another million or so commute in daily to work. Don't we need Kevlar? What about getting some of that armour for our cars? BTW, do you know what streets the IED's are on? I'd like to avoid them tomorrow, being its Friday and all. Our troops Doug? What about us?

I mean, DC has a population of about half a million, and another million or so commute in daily to work.

Don’t we need Kevlar?

What about getting some of that armour for our cars?

BTW, do you know what streets the IED’s are on? I’d like to avoid them tomorrow, being its Friday and all.

]]> By: doug http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-3/#comment-590096 doug Fri, 02 Jun 2006 01:50:47 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590096 If DC is even more dangerous, isn't our coward Bush negligent for not making our troops in DC wear bulletproof vests and drive around in uparmored humvees? If DC is even more dangerous, isn’t our coward Bush negligent for not making our troops in DC wear bulletproof vests and drive around in uparmored humvees?

]]> By: KJ Lovell http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-3/#comment-590076 KJ Lovell Fri, 02 Jun 2006 01:29:25 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590076 #146, I'm not sure you can change the subject...that subject is Iraq is safer than DC. Tell that to the people the soldiers executed because they were pissed off. Tell us since you are so smart, since Iraq is <strong>the safest and happiest place on earth</strong>, when are you moving? #146, I’m not sure you can change the subject…that subject is Iraq is safer than DC.

Tell that to the people the soldiers executed because they were pissed off.

Tell us since you are so smart, since Iraq is the safest and happiest place on earth, when are you moving?

]]> By: KJ Lovell http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-3/#comment-590071 KJ Lovell Fri, 02 Jun 2006 01:25:52 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590071 Now not all CONservatives are stupid, but <strong>most stupid people are CONservative.</strong> Now not all CONservatives are stupid, but most stupid people are CONservative.

]]> By: Urban Sombrero http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-3/#comment-590065 Urban Sombrero Fri, 02 Jun 2006 01:17:45 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590065 If it's so safe, let's pull the troops out of Iraq. If it’s so safe, let’s pull the troops out of Iraq.

]]> By: FLAVIUS WORFEUS http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-3/#comment-590008 FLAVIUS WORFEUS Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:22:46 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-590008 <em>If you want people to read your garbage, don’t call names</em> Comment by D. Thorn — June 1, 2006 @ 7:31 pm <em>The person who made that uninformed and irresponsible remark is probably one of <strong>those intellectually challenged “left-wing non-entity</strong>.</em> Comment by D. Thorn — June 1, 2006 @ 7:31 pm If you want people to read your garbage, don’t call names

Comment by D. Thorn — June 1, 2006 @ 7:31 pm

The person who made that uninformed and irresponsible remark is probably one of those intellectually challenged “left-wing non-entity.

Comment by D. Thorn — June 1, 2006 @ 7:31 pm

]]> By: secretmojo http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-3/#comment-589976 secretmojo Thu, 01 Jun 2006 23:51:41 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-589976 Isn't it obvious? <strong>WE'VE WON!</strong> Looking forward to our troops' speedy return! Better buy your confetti now, before it disappears off the shelves in the next coupla days... Isn’t it obvious? WE’VE WON!

Looking forward to our troops’ speedy return! Better buy your confetti now, before it disappears off the shelves in the next coupla days…

]]> By: D. Thorn http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-3/#comment-589950 D. Thorn Thu, 01 Jun 2006 23:31:30 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-589950 As we say in the verbal world, some of you authors (and I use the term with tongue in cheek) are letting your mouth (fingers) overload your brains. If you want people to read your garbage, don't call names! I happen to be a Conservative (Ultra) who is disaffected with this administration (not right enough). As a Conservative and a concerned American who, by the way, has served his country, I thoroughly resent the name calling. A mister "Grand Muff Texan" referred to conservatives being stupid. The person who made that uninformed and irresponsible remark is probably one of those intellectually challenged "left-wing non-entity. I feel much better now! As we say in the verbal world, some of you authors (and I use the term with tongue in cheek) are letting your mouth (fingers) overload your brains. If you want people to read your garbage, don’t call names! I happen to be a Conservative (Ultra) who is disaffected with this administration (not right enough). As a Conservative and a concerned American who, by the way, has served his country, I thoroughly resent the name calling. A mister “Grand Muff Texan” referred to conservatives being stupid. The person who made that uninformed and irresponsible remark is probably one of those intellectually challenged “left-wing non-entity. I feel much better now!

]]> By: KJ Lovell http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/comment-page-3/#comment-589948 KJ Lovell Thu, 01 Jun 2006 23:30:06 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/#comment-589948 Iraq: <strong>THE SAFEST AND HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!</strong> Let's move all the RE-PUBIC-licans and our der leader the flying/lyin' monkey and Krash-Kart-Shoot-Em-UP over there. After all, they have greeted us as liberators. Since Krash-kart said a year ago the insurgency is in its last throes, they must be gone now. All we have to worry about over there is our own boys shooting us. Ever notice that in Iraq, much like Vietnam you never saw a dead person that was a good guy. As soon as they die, they're tagged with the term enemy combatant. Everybody run, cheeney's got a gun! Iraq: THE SAFEST AND HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!

Let’s move all the RE-PUBIC-licans and our der leader the flying/lyin’ monkey and Krash-Kart-Shoot-Em-UP over there.

After all, they have greeted us as liberators. Since Krash-kart said a year ago the insurgency is in its last throes, they must be gone now.

All we have to worry about over there is our own boys shooting us. Ever notice that in Iraq, much like Vietnam you never saw a dead person that was a good guy. As soon as they die, they’re tagged with the term enemy combatant.

Everybody run, cheeney’s got a gun!

]]>