And It's Gonna Be Bad In August

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/7833

And It's Gonna Be Bad In August
by Matthew Hubbard | Jun 1 2007


George W. Bush has prepared us for it. The American death count from Iraq will be bad in August.

What was the point of that?

As has been widely reported, March was a very bad month already, only topped by the months when we "pacified" Fallujah. Not as widely reported is that the past two months have been hands down the worst two consecutive months since the war began, and the first time there have been over 100 U.S. dead for two months in a row. The "benchmark" of making things better in Baghdad also looks bad, no matter what John McCain or Joe Lieberman might tell you. April saw about 800 civilian deaths, while the count in May was closer to 950.

The point, I think, of Bush's prediction lies in a pattern we have seen before. When a yearly deficit is reported as x, there will also be a gloomy forecast given of how bad the next year's deficit will be as x + y. When the actual next year's deficit is reported, even if it is bigger than x, it is considered a victory as long as it is smaller that x + y, a completely bullshit forecast. Most reporters won't even notice.

This same trick is used in stories about gas prices. Watch out for $4 a gallon gas this summer! It probably won't go that high, though it will be at record highs. Then the professional liars can say we dodged the bullet of $4 a gallon, even though prices remain as high as anyone has seen.

Historically, August has been worse than July in Iraq for U.S. dead, true in every year except 2003, when we could have declared victory and left by today's standards for victory. Since Bush didn't even mention a number, whatever happens in August can be claimed to be not as bad as predicted. This may be the "victory" he needs to continue the propaganda offensive in Washington now set to have the next round in September.

[KittyWampus]

1. Babylonsister, you've been posting some great stuff this morning. Hubbard is absolutely dead on

it's how these liars and manipulators work

[babylonsister]

2. Why, thank you! Now, if only I could write that stuff! But I'm

happy to do some digging for the cause. :)

[GDAEx2]

3. Why don't they just "wait us out"

August will be bad because the insurgency wants to make it appear that the "surge" isn't working.
Why wouldn't they just wait us out, make the surge appear to work and then reappear after the US declares victory and happily packs up and goes home?
Of course this is a rhethorical question in this forum, because we all know that there is no intent by this admin. to ever leave. The S. Korea strategy of permanent bases and occupation has been the idea all along.
I just wish someone in the msm would debunk this "wait it out" BS once and for all.

[Javaman]

4. Maybe he* was hinting at the invasion of Iran he's* planning. nt