Numbers are cooked in report of deaths in Iraq - Figures don't lie but liars sure do figure

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=620372&category=OPINION&newsdate=9/8/2007

In a front-page article on Sept. 2, the Times Union reported that "only" 57 soldiers were killed in Iraq in August as compared to 123 in May. Under the headline, "Combat deaths drop," the article went on to quote Pentagon sources citing this statistic as possible proof the "surge" is working, and that the Iraqi population is slowly turning away from the insurgency and allying itself with us.

The article willingly conflates the success of the "surge" as not being as deadly as military planners might have feared with its overall success as a tactic. But beyond this point, the data offered not only fall far short of proving anything, they are also totally cooked.

To arrive at the "drop" promoted in its headline, the article's author subtracted most "nonhostile" deaths from the reported totals. Icasualties.org, the source cited in the article, lists 126 American deaths in May and 81 deaths in August. The same source lists six of May's deaths and 26 of August's deaths as "nonhostile."

As "nonhostile" deaths include deaths by natural causes, there may be some validity to subtracting a few when analyzing the relative danger faced by a deployed soldier. However, most "nonhostile" deaths are clearly war-related, as for example, the 19 listed as dying in two separate helicopter crashes in Iraq in August.

I wonder: Do the families of these 19 soldiers believe their loved ones did not die in a war? Will the Pentagon resist petitions to carve their name on some future wall?

I am offended that the propagandists at the Pentagon and in the press are willing to classify these deaths as statistically insignificant simply to shore up a story.

RONALD LADOUCEUR

Niskayuna

[KittyWampus]

1. Don, the Pentagon isn't counting Iraqis shot in the FRONT of the head in the tally.

Or people killed in carbombs.

Ugh

[izzie]

2. Where did that hole in front of head come from?

I heard Du gin, I think,. say that no reports that were bad could be sent in to go into report. The other one on front holes vs. back ones made me laugh. Not a subject to do that about but it was on the Far Side type of humor. I wonder who puts in the head zone? Do we have a head shot Czar on that or does it go right to the WH and they do the count?

[KittyWampus]

3. and do they split the difference when someone's shot in the temple or side?

[izzie]

4. That is a good point and I guess they count it as half a person

It is just to far out to even think it was said by any one but the onion. It must be just a 'thing' running around the internet and TV with no base for it. How could any one think like that? Do you know where it came from?

[Jacobin]

5. Reminds me of the famous fictitious Viet Nam body counts

All made up bullshit that meant absolutely nothing.

[madokie]

7. except it kept the war going, hey we're winning, today we killed hundreds of them

and only lost a dozen or so of our own, see. I remember it well as up until I got in country myself I believed it too, but then in a matter of days I knew better and I'm just an ole stump jumper from oklahoma so anyone should be able to see through this except of course those who chose to not look :-) propaganda is propaganda

[madokie]

6. the deaths will continue as long as there is an American presence there

whether it be body or armor matters not. that can be taken to the bank my friends

[FreedomRain]

8. Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics!

They also don't count a soldier wounded in Iraq who dies after being medevac'd.