Helen Thomas: Who's counting the dead in Iraq?

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/6695128.htm

Remember the enemy body counts during the Vietnam War? Some of those U.S. tabulations were highly exaggerated in an effort to show gains on the battlefield.

Well, we don't do that anymore.

The Pentagon has meticulously reported the American fatality toll in Iraq, now up to 286. That number includes 183 deaths from hostile fire since the start of the war. It also includes 148 dead since May 1 when President Bush declared the end of major combat operations. A Pentagon spokesman said that 1,105 U.S. service personnel have been wounded since the war began.

That kind of numerical precision doesn't apply throughout Iraq. Trying to find the death count among Iraqis has proved to be mission impossible.

I asked Pentagon officials: ''How many Iraqis have been killed in this war?'' The answers were given ''on background'' -- meaning that the Pentagon spokesmen requested anonymity. The spokesmen were honest. They clearly were following orders from the policymakers when they replied that the Iraqi fatality toll was simply not our concern.

Make sure you read Babs Bush callous comment about body bags at the end of article.

[LittleApple81]

1. I did read Babs comments and I am totally appalled.

I knew they were evil, but not THIS evil!
here it is:

On March 18, two days before the U.S. invasion, Barbara Bush had an interview with ABC-TV's Diane Sawyer.

''Why should we hear about body bags and deaths and how many, what day it's gonna happen?'' Mrs. Bush declared. ''It's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?'' Maybe she is right, but I don't think so.

[RamboLiberal]

2. Now I know why Junior is such evil spawn

he ought to send Babs a "Kill 'em All" t-shirt for Xmas.

[Dookus]

3. Well....

Richard Nixon admired Barbara Bush. He is quoted as saying "that is a woman who knows how to hate."


And he should know.

[ClintonTyree]

4. "Why should I waste.....................

my beautiful mind on something like that". I'd call that a very selfish, sick and unsympathetic mind, hardly beautiful. Of course in the Bush family, that's as good as it gets.