Of the two, the latter ministry number seems more credible. I have already cited sources showing that the methodology of Iraqbodycount.com is full of holes.
However, that ministry number also includes Iraqis killed by ALL causes, including insurgents. Note that some are Iraqi policemen and national guardsmen. Granting the report's fuzzy estimate that two-thirds were caused by coalition forces, we wind up with something like 2,300.
Note that the ministry number does not include casualties after Sept. 19 or before April 5, so this number has to be low on that basis alone.
This document, which covers approximately the period of major combat (March 20 to the end of April) estimates about 4,000 civilian casualties during that time. Even assuming that this source and the ministry source have no overlap (the ministry numbers would overlap, going back to April 5th), that adds up to about 6,300 in all.
This is still less than half of the number you routinely throw around. Now cut it out.
Current Events » in reply to Well, the military is no source. - “We don’t do body counts†- General Tommy Franks.
One of your sources says 3,500 and another says 14,000, and you don't see a problem with your numbers?
The whole thread (39 posts)
- If you want to be a good guy, you have to be better than the badguys.
- Maybe there is a good reason
- Your friends the Palestinians and Cubans might be able to help you learn the difference.
- You are aware that this entire "controversy" is largely anecdotal?
- They're "disappeared", Tom. "Disappeared". For a reason.
- I can see a number of valid reasons that you wouldn't want to acknowledge the capture of a terrorist.
- They're "disappeared", Tom. "Disappeared". For a reason.
- Wrong: To WIN a war against terrorists, you must be just as mean as your opponents. You must do whatever they do, only do it first and do it better. The only rule is "there are no rules". (n/t)
- re: A clue: terrorist don't wear red armbands. I want us to remain as a country long after al Quede is fading memory. What you propose will make us cease to exist long before they do. (n/t)
- How is that different from Saddam, Hitler, Stalin, Osama bin Laden, Idi Amin, etc?
- Simple: We do to the terrorists what they do to their victims. Not just to random people, but to the terrorists themselves. I hope that you understand now.
- We Are
- Moral imbeciles do not understand the difference between killing terrorists and killing innocents.
- You really don't understand that you contradict yourself in the two posts you have made to this thread, do you? (n/t)
- Clarification. You must be as mean to the terrorists as they are to the innocent. I did NOT mean to attack innocents. Got it? (n/t)
- Got it. No justice, no rule of law, no mercy. Just two sets of cutthroats going after each other.
- Clarification. You must be as mean to the terrorists as they are to the innocent. I did NOT mean to attack innocents. Got it? (n/t)
- You really don't understand that you contradict yourself in the two posts you have made to this thread, do you? (n/t)
- Moral imbeciles do not understand the difference between killing terrorists and killing innocents.