Hard numbers elusive as military says Baghdad violence falling

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

Hard numbers elusive as military says Baghdad violence falling by Jim Mannion
35 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (AFP) - When General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, asserted last week that sectarian murders in Baghdad were down by two-thirds it was a bright spot in an otherwise dark picture.

The US Senate was poised to vote in favor of a timeline for withdrawing US forces from Iraq, and the drop in killings was one countervailing sign that the surge of additional US combat troops was having a positive effect.

But in the week since Petraeus spoke at a Pentagon press conference, US military spokesmen have been unwilling or unable to provide the actual numbers of civilian deaths in Baghdad that underpin his estimate.

"Typically we do not release our numbers since they involve Iraqi citizens and we are hesitant to put forth the raw numbers since we would be in effect, talking for the Iraqi government," said Colonel Steven Boylan, Petraeus' public affairs officer, by email.

"There are differences in numbers depending on category that they are placed," he wrote.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070504/pl_afp/usiraqmilitaryunrest_070504142818

[xchrom]

1. liars -- until the iraqi government is able to stand on it's own two feet --

the pentagon IS the government.

we have a building full of military geniuses who aren't.

[Atman]

2. They're using the same technique they use to measure the "GREAT" economy

Just stop reporting the numbers that throw off the average you're looking for. Like car bombs. Heck, if they stop counting car bombs, car bombing statistics will drop precipitously!

Remember...these people lie about EVERYTHING.

.

[gratuitous]

3. Oh, you want proof?

Isn't is enough that the military says that violence is down? Why must you be so suspicious? Has the military ever lied to anyone before? Okay, other than Pat Tillman. Yeah, yeah, Jessica Lynch. Abu Ghraib? Are you still harping on that one? We said we were kind of sorry about that! Kama Aido hasn't been in the news for years, why bring that up?

Okay, we said violence was down because we're not counting car bombs anymore. There. Happy?

[sutz12]

7. Don't need proof. Remember, it's a faith based occupation.

:evilgrin:

[Phredicles]

4. Don't they always say this?

I mean, it seems like, according to official announcements, violence had been on a steady decline in Iraq and in Baghdad in particular ever since Codpiece Day. And of course the press dutifully reports these announcements as fact, until the next outburst of bombings and atrocities when they are forgotten until the next time.:eyes:

[jobycom]

5. "There are more nerve endings in the gut than in the brain."

Steve Colbert moment, here, eh? They can't prove the numbers, and hell, the numbers probably say just the opposite. But in his gut, Petraeus knows that deaths are down. They must be. We had that surge after all.

General Petraeus: A granite-hard Roman name applied to jello-like coward. He doesn't have the courage to speak the truth.

[global1]

6. There Is A Statistical Correlation Between The Declining Numbers Of Car Bombs In Iraq and ......

the unemployment numbers in the U.S.

Both are a lie - and - both are more than are being reported.

*Co MO ...... When in trouble - stop counting.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Talking for the Iraqi government????

"Typically we do not release our numbers since they involve Iraqi citizens and we are hesitant to put forth the raw numbers since we would be in effect, talking for the Iraqi government," said Colonel Steven Boylan, Petraeus' public affairs officer, by email.

So they are willing to do their fighting but not talk for the Iraqi government?

It would seem that he is the liberator that he is doing the talking. Not the puppet government.

[LiberalFighter]

9. There are differences in numbers depending on category that they are placed

What he means by that is the military can't be trusted to tell the truth.

[tabasco]

10. Petraeus is a cowardly yes-man appointed by the Bush mafia.

Who is stupid enough to believe these liars anymore?