Hiding the bodies in Iraq - Part II
This LATimes piece offers some rough numbers on the Iraqi dead since the Iraqi government stopped releasing figures.
By my loose math, the LATimes estimate of 5,509 civilians dying in Baghdad province means approximately 1,460/month in Baghdad province alone.
Generally, I would expect the Baghdad numbers to be the more inclusive, which would mean that the countrywide estimates are probably very low. (I don't believe there have been only 200-500 deaths/month outside Baghdad.)
But in the end, despite the math, all you need to know is that key explanation given to Ivana Vuco, a U.N. human rights officer,
They can try to hide the bodies, but the Iraqi people will know this as a lie. This effort is not aimed at them, it is aimed at us. It is an effort, a favor, for the Bush administration.
And just to turn your stomach, from today's press briefing:
I don't know why that phrase rubs me so wrong, but it does.
(Also, McClatchy reminds us that the Bush administration doesn't count carbombs, suicide bombs, and IED's in their civilian counts.)
However, numbers obtained from various ministries by the Times indicated that already this year, 5,509 civilians had died violently in Baghdad province alone, which includes the capital.....
The numbers obtained by the Times indicated that civilian deaths, which had been 1,991 in January, dropped to 1,646 in February -- the month the security plan began -- then rose to 1,872 in March. That could be a reflection of what U.S. and Iraqi military officials acknowledge has been a rise in bombings targeting crowded public areas since the crackdown began.
The figures also showed that Iraqi police were dying at a far higher rate since the security plan began. In January, 59 police died. The number for February was 132, and it was 165 in March.
By my loose math, the LATimes estimate of 5,509 civilians dying in Baghdad province means approximately 1,460/month in Baghdad province alone.
Generally, I would expect the Baghdad numbers to be the more inclusive, which would mean that the countrywide estimates are probably very low. (I don't believe there have been only 200-500 deaths/month outside Baghdad.)
But in the end, despite the math, all you need to know is that key explanation given to Ivana Vuco, a U.N. human rights officer,
"We were told they were concerned that people would misconstrue the figures, to portray the situation very negatively, and that would further undermine their efforts to establish some kind of stability and security in the country," Vuco said.
They can try to hide the bodies, but the Iraqi people will know this as a lie. This effort is not aimed at them, it is aimed at us. It is an effort, a favor, for the Bush administration.
And just to turn your stomach, from today's press briefing:
MS. PERINO: Well, I think that what we're seeing is the modest signs of hope, little seeds of hope, amongst the destruction and the challenges that we have in Iraq that the Baghdad security plan is starting to have some effect and some success.
I don't know why that phrase rubs me so wrong, but it does.
(Also, McClatchy reminds us that the Bush administration doesn't count carbombs, suicide bombs, and IED's in their civilian counts.)
posted by mikevotes at
5:47 PM
5 Comments:
If you squint hard enough you can see anything. I remember as a kid -- 10 or 12 years old -- the kids in my neighborhood gathering around to see who had ESP. This was quite the rage in the 70's.... ESP, Uri Geller bending spoons, Erich von Daniken's ancient aliens building pyramids. We all concentrated so hard trying to move things with our minds... a pencil a toy car, whatever. And Debbie concentrated so hard we were sure that pencil moved... just a little bit.
The zeitgeist of the time planted seeds of hope in our minds -- little, tiny seeds of hope -- that we too were special and could move things with our minds, if only we believed hard enough.
By
-epm, at 6:38 PM
I think that's a pretty good allegory for where they are.
I often wonder if they know the truth and choose not to see it. If they cherry pick because they "believe" so hard. Or if they just straight up lie believeing that things will get better, they just have to lie in the present to keep it all together.
The bottom line in both scenarios is that their perception is based on belief, not reality.
There are very few photos coming out right now from the streets in Iraq which tells me that the risk level has gone up and the sectarianism is on the rise.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 9:26 PM
I think it's a mix of both. Bush believes; he has religion. Cheney just doesn't give a shit. He believes, all right. He believes there's money to be made.
By
-epm, at 10:23 PM
Maybe it rubs because the seeds are being planted in our (westerners) minds through subterfuge. I don't think any seeds are being planted in the Iraqi's minds. At least not yet.
By
Praguetwin, at 1:22 AM
EPM, I think Cheney believes but in a different "Strangelove" kind of way.
And, Praguetwin, for some reason, you made me think that my offense was related to the imagery.
Sprouts and shoots of total innocence pushing their way forth instead ogf the horrible sausage factory that Iraq really is.
To try and summon "life and groth imagery out of the pool of death that is Iraq just strikes me very wrong.
By
mikevotes, at 8:39 AM
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