CNN-I: US excluded car, suicide bombs from Iraq murder count

[Bozita]

Why doesn't this get any mention in the MSM?


http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/09/11/iraq.deaths.ap/

U.S. excluded car, suicide bombs from Iraq murder toll
POSTED: 2325 GMT (0725 HKT), September 11, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The U.S. military did not count people killed by bombs, mortars, rockets or other mass attacks when it reported a dramatic drop in the number of murders in the Baghdad area last month, the U.S. command said Monday.

The decision to include only victims of drive-by shootings and those killed by torture and execution, usually at the hands of death squads, allowed U.S. officials to argue that a security crackdown that began in the capital August 7 had more than halved the city's murder rate.

But the types of slayings, including suicide bombings, that the U.S. excluded from the category of "murder" were not made explicit at the time. That led to confusion after Iraqi Health Ministry figures showed that 1,536 people died violently in and around Baghdad in August, nearly the same number as in July.

The figures raise serious questions about the success of the security operation launched by the U.S.-led coalition. When they released the murder rate figures, U.S. officials and their Iraqi counterparts were eager to show progress in restoring security in Baghdad at a time when Iraq appeared on the verge of civil war.

more...

[bluestateguy]

1. Lies, damn lies and statistics

I could prove the moon was made of green cheese with statistics.

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Why am I suddenly reminded of Baghdad Bob saying to the

world that the Americans were being thrown back by the victorious Iraqi army and they would never enter Baghdad?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Highway deaths drop! Not counting those involving cars.

[Bozita]

5. That's perfect!

[Bozita]

4. kick

[Bozita]

6. fucking with #s lands you in jail ... unless you're part of Bushco