CNN: Baghdad targeted civilian killings soar in May (to 1,398)

[DeepModem Mom]

Baghdad targeted civilian killings soar in May
Most were victims of execution-style murders, Iraqi official says
Tuesday, June 6, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Nearly 1,400 Iraqi civilians died in a wave of targeted killings in Baghdad last month, according to a high-ranking Iraqi Health Ministry official.

The figure does not include civilians killed in insurgent bombings, the official said. Even so, the number is the highest monthly death toll in the capital since the war began three years ago.

In May 1,398 bodies were brought to the Baghdad morgue, the official said.

All were killed in attacks; in most cases the bodies were found strewn across the Iraqi capital, shot execution-style, the official said....

***

The number of Iraqis who have died in Baghdad alone in the first five months of the year stands at 6,025, or more than 1,200 a month, according to CNN's calculation....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/06/iraq.main/index.html

[paparush]

1. We've turned the corner... The insurgency is in its last throes..

this is not civil war... We're winning the war on terror.

Since this is all going so well, we're going to focus our attention on 'really' important things like Immigration, Gay Marriage, and Flag Burning.


I want my country back!!

[saigon68]

2. Don't forget "FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH"

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. I believe that they have far surpassed the number of

saddam killings, based on the unearthed mass graves that were dug up immediately following the US conquest. I believe they totaled somewhere in the 2-3 thousand range. I doubt there were more, because if there were you can bet they would have dug them up.

[MadMaddie]

4. Add about 1000 Iraqi's a day are fleeing their homes

because of the violence and moving to camps....

[struggle4progress]

5. 1398/mo annualized is 16776/yr. Assuming a Bagdad population

of 5 million, that's a murder rate of 335 per 100000 per year.

Why, it's an almost crime-free paradise!

".. figure does not include civilians killed in .. bombings."