New Iraqi civilian death toll statistics contradict the Bush administration’s claims that the escalation is working. From the LA Times:
Bombings, sectarian slayings and other violence related to the war killed at least 1,773 Iraqi civilians in August, the second month in a row that civilian deaths have risen, according to government figures obtained Friday.
In July, the civilian death toll was 1,753, and in June it was 1,227. The numbers are based on morgue, hospital and police records and come from officials in the ministries of Health, Defense and the Interior. The statistics appear to indicate that President Bush’s increase in troops this year has done little to rein in civilian bloodshed, despite U.S. military statements to the contrary.
(HT: Greatscat!)
That's the big problem with measuring violence - what do you compare it to? Last month's numbers? Last year's number? Which "types" of violence do you count, and are they the same types that have been counted all along? What would make me believe that the violence is abating would be general consensus from the various groups conducting the analysis. I would want to see charts that show the monthly violence levels from about May, 2003, through the current month, and if they showed a sharp drop in violence as compared to the overall trend, I would start to believe the surge is working.
September 1st, 2007 at 9:23 amI think the best they can say about the surge right now (if they wanted to be honest about it, which they don't) is that it has changed the distribution of the violence.
ok, who's shocked bushco loves the lying...... black is white, up is down & 1 + 2 = chair... GOT IT?
September 1st, 2007 at 9:29 amWhat other metrics are there? The numbers of refugees? The water, oil, and electricity that still don't match pre-war levels? The expanding strife in outlying villages? It was a hoorible decision to go war? It's been a horrible "victory." And its all been based on deliberate lies!
September 1st, 2007 at 9:34 amThe only reports that are going to matter are ones presented by independent agencies with no agenda. We already know this administration is genius at making the facts fit the agenda then propelling the propaganda.
September 1st, 2007 at 9:42 amAnd now they have cholera starting up....Our occupation is distroying their country and our's...The world need's Blessings and a cleansing of corrupt polatician's....
September 1st, 2007 at 9:45 amRush Limbaugh, the fountain of truth, told me this was only true because the demoncrats have forced congress to start considering dogs "civilans"...
whats the good word on this one trolls?... hilary took money from someone shady?
September 1st, 2007 at 9:55 amI saw a report on the refugee camps that have been established in Iraq as a result of this war. Between these camps and the number of people who have totally fled the country and those who have stayed in the country but moved in order to avoid sectarian violence, the dislocation is incredible.
The mounting number of deaths due to violence is appalling as well. Add to that the already-referenced decrease in services -- electricity, safe water, etc. -- and the situation appears pretty dire.
I cannot imagine any result other than generations of resentment and hostility that will remain behind in Iraq and, indeed, the rest of the region if and when we pull out our troops.
There is absolutely no question that the Iraq war was the worst foreign policy mistake in the history of our country. Far from being "the main front in the War on Terror", our actions in Iraq will fuel conflicts and create real threats to our security for decades to come.
This will be GDumbya's legacy. He is undoubtedly the worst president this country ever has or ever will have. Ditto for Darth Cheney and the rest of the Keystone Kops.
September 1st, 2007 at 9:56 amno no.. wait.. these numbers arent real, they are fabricated by the LA times, who must be a purveyor of left wing propaganda, becaus they have the word "LA" in thier name...
September 1st, 2007 at 9:58 amIt's all the liberal media's fault. It's Barney Franks fault. Hillary's fault. Hollwierd's fault. Gay marriage caused it. Dope smoking tree huggers did it.
-GSD
September 1st, 2007 at 10:09 amThis is what Gen. Petraeus will be referring to as "mixed progress" when he delivers his report to Congress in September. Unfortunately it's mixed with 3/4 absolute failure. That's one hell of a stiff glass of Kool-Aid.
September 1st, 2007 at 10:10 am"But it has said that the monthly civilian death toll from sectarian killings, which do not include all bombings, "
gotta love this bit.. Dumya stopped including people killed in car bomb attacks as casualties....
next tweak, they will stop including people killed by bullets, instead listing those deaths as "lead poisoning"
also, when scattered body parts are involved,
I hear they round down to the nearest torso
(that parts my shoddy attempt at humour)
September 1st, 2007 at 10:12 amWant to do your part? Join the 9/11 strike to protest this carnage. Details can be found at the following link.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0708/S00383.htm
September 1st, 2007 at 10:13 amAs long as Bush and Cheney remain in DC the Iraq Fiasco War will not end. If Hillary Clinton becomes president, then she might not end it either. American citizens have to demand its end.
September 1st, 2007 at 10:24 amCASUALTIES STARTING AUGUST 1st ( 31 days)
Wednesday: 6 GIs, 1 Brit, 178 Iraqis Killed; 188 Iraqis Wounded
Thursday: 3 GIs, 116 Iraqis Killed; 76 Iraqis Wounded
Friday: 3 GIs, 22 Iraqis Killed; 13 Iraqis Wounded
Saturday: 1 Marine, 38 Iraqis Killed; 26 Iraqis Wounded
Sunday: 4 GIs, 116 Iraqis Killed; 49 Iraqis Wounded
Monday: 8 GIs, 123 Iraqis Killed; 131 Iraqis Wounded
Tuesday: 3 GIs, 1 Briton, 63 Iraqis Killed; 50 Iraqis Wounded
Wednesday: 93 Iraqis, 1 Briton Killed; 63 Iraqis Wounded
Thursday: 3 GIs, 2 Britons, 46 Iraqis Killed; 21 Iraqis Wounded
Friday: 81 Iraqis Killed, 89 Wounded
Saturday: 1 GI, 81 Iraqis Killed; 34 Iraqis Wounded
Sunday: 5 GIs, 1 Fiji Soldier, 57 Iraqis Killed; 37 Iraqis Wounded
Monday: 4 GIs, 41 Iraqis Killed; 20 Iraqis Wounded
Tuesday: 6 GIs Kille, 572 Dead, 1,562 Wounded
Wednesday: 87 Iraqis Killed, 44 Wounded
Thursday: 3 GIs, 64 Iraqis Killed; 40 Wounded
Friday: 4 GIs, 34 Iraqis Killed; 65 Iraqis Wounded
Saturday: 32 Iraqis Killed, 46 Iraqis Wounded
Sunday: 125 Iraqis Killed, 78 Wounded
Monday: 1 GI, 60 Iraqis Killed; 67 Iraqis Wounded
Tuesday: 63 Iraqis Killed, 89 Wounded
Wednesday: 15 GIs, 154 Iraqis Killed; 175 Iraqis Wounded
Thursday: 2 GIs, 72 Iraqis Killed; 59 Iraqis Wounded
Friday: 1 GI, 48 Iraqis Killed; 38 Iraqis Wounded
Saturday: 1 GI, 35 Iraqis Killed; 46 Iraqis Wounded
Sunday: 2 GIs, 84 Iraqis Killed; 54 Iraqis Wounded
Monday: 4 GIs, 62 Iraqis Killed; 45 Iraqis Wounded
Tuesday: 148 Iraqis Killed, 330 Wounded
Wednesday: 1 GI, 59 Iraqis Killed; 28 Iraqis Wounded
Thursday: 2 GIs, 30 Iraqis Killed; 26 Iraqis Wounded
Friday: 4 GIs, 53 Iraqis; 9 Wounded
the official figure is even too low
September 1st, 2007 at 11:15 amNo, no, no.... the "surge" is working: the number of US troops killed in Iraq is down this month. I know so, because the White House said so.
You see, Iraqi deaths don't count. Specially if it's due to lack of basic services, like water electricity, or health care. It's part of the American tough love campaign to "win hearts and minds".
Plus, that should also teach them to be self-reliant and not depend on government hand-outs.
/sarcasm off
September 1st, 2007 at 11:24 amThis surely shows that we're winning. It's obvious the Iraqis are getting more desperate and are killing each other at a faster pace, showing that they are finished. They're obviously in their last throes as we stay the course yet turn the corner in the tunnel with the light at the end and surge to the victory line.
September 1st, 2007 at 11:33 amI keep asking: who is surprised? When there absolutely no oversight!
September 1st, 2007 at 11:42 amTo date:
September 1st, 2007 at 1:21 pm3739 soldiers have died. The number of deaths in August passed the July figure by one.
How can anyone believe the "surge" is working? The political climate there is chaotic and corrupt. With our soldiers tamping down fires in certain areas, how does that equate to success?
What is meant by "winning?" Who are the losers?
Cholera has broken out in areas. There is no potable water, no power, no economy and there is blatant war between sects.
When we leave, it may be even more awful, but staying there isn't going to improve matters either.
We must get our people out and enlist regional powers to exert their influence. They have no incentive to do so as long as we are there.
http://www.worldtribunal.org/main/?b=65
Galloway opens door to expose U.S. crimes
http://www.worldtribunal.org/main/
The Excessive Use of Weapons and Banned Weapons
by Akira Maeda, Sayo Saruta, Koichi Inamori, ICTI
The Use of Depleted Uranium (DU) Weapons
1. The Truth About the Use of Depleted Uranium (DU) Weapons by US and UK Troops
The US and UK troops in the attacks on Iraq that started on 21 March 2001 used DU weapons during the battles at various places in Iraq. The truth of the use of DU weapons by US troop was verified and admitted by Brigadier General Brooks in a press briefing on 26 March of the same year when he said, "DU bombs had been used.".
Michael Kilpatrick, Deputy Director of Deployment Health Support in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, at a forum at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on 6 March 2004, said, "The Army fired and used from tanks and armored vehicle 24 tons or less of DU bombs, and the Air Force, 10 tons or less of DU bombs from A-10 planes. These, when combined, would be equivalent to 115 tons of metallic uranium.
September 1st, 2007 at 1:29 pmRe: America's Darkest Secret: The Nine Stages of American Autogenocide
It sure is a dangerous situation and TPTB are certainly prepared to be utterly ruthless in its execution, I mean look at 9-11, especially the poison dust that is killing thousands and thousands as we speak. Plus the awful crime of Katrina, blowing the levees and allowing the people to die of thirst, if they had waited any longer they would have arrived at a football stadium full of corpses.
But then the US was a nation sadly founded on genocide (at least in its present federal form), one of histories worst genocides of 12 million native Indians, now they want to reduce or cull certain parts of US society and indeed of the whole globe.
Frightening stuff.
http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=2982.0
September 1st, 2007 at 1:31 pm#19 Don, thank you very much for this link...My only respnse is, I suspected this all along and Wow!....Blessings
September 1st, 2007 at 2:15 pmComment by Don Siegleman — September 1, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
And to think people who believe this stuff are allowed out without a caretaker. Geez, people get on your meds! ;)
September 1st, 2007 at 2:33 pmDumb Question: How does this jive with today and yesterday's military release that "ethnic and religious violence" is on the decline ? I know they took civilian deaths due to car bombs out of the equation. Should I also gather that today the only "religious" violence is when both the victim and perpetrator are wearing a Roman collar ? (admittedly rare among Shia clerics).
Or is this a dumb question or what ?
September 1st, 2007 at 6:00 pm> And to think people who believe this stuff
> are allowed out without a caretaker.
yeah these kooks from high ranks of the reagan adminsitration must have alzheimers like their leader did.
http://www.patriotsquestion911.com/
> Geez, people get on your meds! ;)
Why so we can be like Rush Limbaug? ha!... this inane response to an off topic post is the best you guys can do? any comment about the actual story? we're waiting...
>Geez, people get on your meds! ;)
September 2nd, 2007 at 2:40 am> How does this jive with today
> and yesterday’s military release that “ethnic and religious violence†is on > the decline ?
Yes, they've redefined "ethnic cleansing" as "what happens when you get a mexican to wash your windows really cheap"... and we know there isnt much of THAT going on in iraq.... mostly due to the lack of mexicans and intact glass...
September 2nd, 2007 at 2:43 amCh'all really don't know, do you?
Mucktard al-Sadr is using you Libs as pawns in a deadly game of Islamic chess!!!
http://djkonservo.wordpress.com/2007/09/02/madhi-army-stand-down/
http://djkonservo.wordpress.com/
September 2nd, 2007 at 10:23 amany comment about the actual story? we’re waiting…
Comment by Chocolate Messiah Overload — September 2, 2007 @ 2:40 am
Messi, I gave autogenocide all the comment it rates. Get a grip, bud. ;)
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:53 pm