Iraq says UN death tally unrealistic

[sabra]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070118/wl_mideast_afp/iraqununrest_070118131530

Iraq says UN death tally unrealistic

BAGHDAD (AFP) -
Iraq has dismissed a UN report that said more than 34,400 people had been killed across the country last year, saying it did not correspond with reality.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Thursday that the report, released Tuesday, "does not reflect the reality on the ground. It is based on individual stories."

The United Nations said it based its findings on data provided by the Iraqi health ministry, which collected figures from hospitals around the country as well as from the Baghdad morgue.

But Dabbagh said: "Unfortunately the report is not based on official sources."

When asked if the Iraqi government could provide its own casualty figures, the spokesman replied: "We do not have casualty figures because we have been unable to gather them due to security reasons."

[Hav]

1. .

Lol, that could have been from The Onion.

[Binka]

2. Dabbagh As Vicky Pollard " Yeah But No But Yeah But You Know The UN Is A Slag"

Asshole sounds just like Lord Pissy Pants.

[dipsydoodle]

3. "Oooooh my God, I so can't believe you just said that!"

For the benefit of our American cousins this is who we're talking about : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUPMJ3S8_K8&NR

edit to a better clip.

[angstlessk]

7. That is TOO Funny ! Never heard of her(?)...thanks for the links she is

hillarious...what I can understand!

[dipsydoodle]

11. Search on YouTube

for both Vicky Pollard and Little Britain for some of the other characters in Little Britain too - it's a BBC comedy show here in the UK. :)

[cosmicdot]

10. lol ... cheers ... the word from Darkly Noone ... :D

Carol Beer chimes in ...

re 34,400 people had been killed across the country last year

"Computer says no"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6xelQKEphE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Beer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jPYjdDpSQg&mode=related&search=

[Junkdrawer]

4. The more influence the US government has, the lower the totals...

Lancet: 650,000 since invasion

UN: 34,000+ last year

Iraqi Government: Casualties?????


Whom to believe: :think:

[Phredicles]

5. Are they saying the figure is too high or too low?

I still can't tell after reading the whole article. In any case, if as the Iraqi government says they have been unable to compile figures of their own, what basis do they have for disputing the UN's totals?:crazy:

[LynnTheDem]

6. I LOVE political satire!

And this one's hilarious!!!

-Iraq says UN death tally unrealistic

-The United Nations said it based its findings on data provided by the Iraqi health ministry, which collected figures from hospitals around the country as well as from the Baghdad morgue.

-But Dabbagh said: "Unfortunately the report is not based on official sources."

-When asked if the Iraqi government could provide its own casualty figures, the spokesman replied: "We do not have casualty figures because we have been unable to gather them due to security reasons."

ROTFLMAO!!!

[daleo]

8. Your basic non-denial denial

They don't say it's not true, just that it's not "realistic".

[TexasLawyer]

9. Translation

"Deaths attributable to our Shia death squads don't really count."