U.S. invasion responsible deaths of over 250,000 civilians in Iraq

[tapstaks2000]

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11674.htm

by John Stokes

New studies make the Bush administration's "liberation" argument for a 'pre-emptive' war against Iraq seem questionable.

The invasion of Iraq in March 2003 by U.S.-led coalition forces has been responsible for the death of at least 150,000 civilians (not including certain of Iraq), reveals a compilitation of scientific studies and corroborated eyewitness testimonies.

The majority of these deaths, which are in addition those normally expected from natural causes, illness and accidents, have been among women and children, documents a well-researched study, that had been released by The Lancet Medical Journal.

The report in the British journal is based on the work of teams from the Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University in the U.S., and the Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad.

A similar methodology was used in the late 1990's to calculate the number of deaths from the war in Kosovo, put at 10,000.

The information was obtained as Iraqi interviewers surveyed 808 families, consisting of 7,868 people, in 33 different "clusters" or neighbourhoods spread across the country.

In each case, they asked how many births and deaths there had been in the home since January 2002.

That information was then compared with the death rates in each neighbourhood in the 15 months before the invasion that toppled president Saddam Hussein, adjusted for the different time frames, and extrapolated to cover the entire 24.4 million population of Iraq.

The most common cause of death is as a direct result of a worsening 'culture of violence', mostly caused by indiscriminate U.S. co-ordinated air strikes, and related military interventions, reveals the study of almost 1000 households scattered across Iraq. And the risk of violent death just after the invasion was 58 times greater than before the war. The overall risk of death was 1.5 times more after the invasion than before.

The on-going American Occupation has also created worsened civil strife as well as mass environmental destructions and related public health problems that is associated with American bomb-related released radioactive and other life-threatening pollutions. The American Occupation has also prevailed over the neglect to the repairing of vital public services-related infrastructure, which include U.S.-led destructions of water systems.

The figure of 100,000 had been based on somewhat "conservative assumptions", notes Les Roberts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, U.S., who led the study.

That estimate excludes Falluja, a hotspot for violence. If the data from this town is included, the compiled studies point to about 250,000 excess deaths since the outbreak of the U.S.-led war.

Many Americans have complained that more than $200 billion U.S. tax dollars have been diverted from vitally needed public services in the United States, into apparently reckless activities. These activities are resulting in inflicted mass-casualities against totally innocent civilians, which have worsened conditions for political extremism, and ensuing "terrorism".

It is well documented that such activities are being viewed by many Iraqis, and other peoples internationally, to undermine a popular feeling of international security in general. Indeed, polls suggest that Americans felt much more secure under the former political ledership of U.S. President Bill Clinton, as compared to the militaristic strategies which are being pursued by the George W. Bush administration.

[cjcdaman]

With war comes tragedy and death. This isn't a game of checkers.

[Mr. S]

it happens, I just hope people realize that military deaths are not the only thing that this war has brought.

[PleaseBlitz]

That information was then compared with the death rates in each neighbourhood in the 15 months before the invasion that toppled president Saddam Hussein, adjusted for the different time frames, and extrapolated to cover the entire 24.4 million population of Iraq.

The most common cause of death is as a direct result of a worsening 'culture of violence', mostly caused by indiscriminate U.S. co-ordinated air strikes, and related military interventions, reveals the study of almost 1000 households scattered across Iraq. And the risk of violent death just after the invasion was 58 times greater than before the war. The overall risk of death was 1.5 times more after the invasion than before.

Interesting. So if we hadnt invaded, 165,000 would have died in the same stretch. Of course, the increase in the risk of death due to invasion is going to be short term. If we hadnt invaded, the risk of death would have been high indefinitely.

[nonniey]

Total Crap I'm here in Baghdad, working as an intel officer. Total Civilian Deaths have not reached 40 thousand since the campaign kicked off. High end average for all deaths (not only civilians) is 600-700 a month initial spike during April 2003 was about 10-15 thousand. Figure it out. Tell you last week the press had us taking out a mosque which was total BS now this.

[Larry]

Total Crap I'm here in Baghdad, working as an intel officer. Total Civilian Deaths have not reached 40K since the campaign kicked off.

I have a lot of trouble believing that.

I would have thought that there'd been close to that number simply attributable to the current suni/shiite "squabble". It certainly seems like "100 dead today in Iraqi violence" isn't that uncommon.

(I'll confess that I haven't been as obsessed with keeping score as the media is.)

Now, I'll certainly agree that those dead weren't (directly) killed by Americans. It's debatable as to who's "fault" they were. But I definatly think they count as "Total Civilian Deaths".

But I think what the researcher is simply doing is counting "Total Iraqi deaths in '05", minus "Total Iraqi deaths in '02" equals "Total Iraqis dead because of the war." Without actually researching how many were killed by which brand of bullet.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Total Crap I'm here in Baghdad, working as an intel officer. Total Civilian Deaths have not reached 40 thousand since the campaign kicked off. High end average for all deaths (not only civilians) is 600-700 a month initial spike during April 2003 was about 10-15 thousand. Figure it out. Tell you last week the press had us taking out a mosque which was total BS now this.

I just have trouble believing you are an intel officer because you said you are an intel officer

If you catch my drift on that one? First rule of intel, never talk about intel

[nonniey]

I have a lot of trouble believing that.

I would have thought that there'd been close to that number simply attributable to the current suni/shiite "squabble". It certainly seems like "100 dead today in Iraqi violence" isn't that uncommon.

(I'll confess that I haven't been as obsessed with keeping score as the media is.)

Now, I'll certainly agree that those dead weren't (directly) killed by Americans. It's debatable as to who's "fault" they were. But I definatly think they count as "Total Civilian Deaths".

But I think what the researcher is simply doing is counting "Total Iraqi deaths in '05", minus "Total Iraqi deaths in '02" equals "Total Iraqis dead because of the war." Without actually researching how many were killed by which brand of bullet.

Spikes such as yesterdays are not unusual but they don't happen every day I'll have to go back and check figures but I'm fairly certain, on average deaths range from 600-700 a month, occasionally with big spikes. Think about this the Washington Post was waving the casualty flag in late Feb-March, over a four week period they were claiming deaths had exploded to almost 1500. That was a lot higher than average and that was a big story for them. Now if 1500 is high for a month how does this article get 250K.

[nonniey]

I just have trouble believing you are an intel officer because you said you are an intel officer

If you catch my drift on that one? First rule of intel, never talk about intel

You've been watching too many James Bond movies. Intels a branch (35 series), we wear it on our collars - flower with a dagger through it. But believe what you wish most people do that.

[jbooma]

You've been watching too many James Bond movies. Intels a branch (35 series), we wear it on our collars - flower with a dagger through it. But believe what you wish most people do that.

:laugh: :laugh:

someone just got

[Teller]

I'd like to see a comparison of civilian deaths in Dresdin during WWII and civilian deaths in Baghdad now. "Collateral damage" sucks, no question; especially when it's women and children. However, we have come a LONG way in how we wage war, and the steps we take to prevent civilian casualties.

[Air Force Cane]

bs.. all the leftist "clearing houses" put out the same made up guesses about how many casualties there have been.

I love how lefties that post this garbage act as if they care about the poor Iraqi civilians- yet they are the same ones clamoring for us to immediately retreat and leave the civilians to a complete bloodbath...

[Redskins Diehard]

That isn't even one per Soldier/Marine we have sent over there. Someone isn't keeping up with their quotas!!

[Renegade7]

Ugh, like we're intentionally targeting civilians. What about the people setting off carbombs, who many people have died from that mess?

[LD0506]

Ugh, like we're intentionally targeting civilians. What about the people setting off carbombs, who many people have died from that mess?

Well I'm sure the US gets blamed for all of those too yanno......

[skinsaddict]

http://www.informationclearinghouse...rticle11674.htm

if its on the internet, it must be true :laugh:

[Extreme]

the problem with these overly inflated numbers, is the fact a huge majority are iraqis blowing up iraqis....not our problem, not our fault.

[Larry]

You've been watching too many James Bond movies. Intels a branch (35 series), we wear it on our collars - flower with a dagger through it. But believe what you wish most people do that.

Actually, they wear Colonial Warrior insignia from Battlestar Galactica (the original TV series.)

(The insignia that Apollo, Starbuck, Commander Adama and so forth wore in the collars of their uniforms was US Army insignia, used by the prop department when they were making the uniforms.)

[Cskin]

I'm not in the least bit interested in reading articles that whine about the deaths of Iraqi citizens yet do not mention the death of 2500 soliders who gave their lives so Iraqis would no longer fear being rustled out of bed in the middle of the night, have their hands tied behind the back after digging a mass grave, and being shot and fall into their freshly dug pit. The child rape rooms... the torture rooms.... the courtyards where innocent Iraqis were eaten alive by dogs.

Don't tally up the lives of innocent Iraqis and write an article unless you decide to count the numbers killed by Hussein himself.... and without mentioning the innocent American soliders who gave their lives so you could vote and enjoy the tastes of democracy.

The liberal left... the enemy within. Blame America... seems it's still a blood sport.

[Larry]

I'm not in the least bit interested in reading articles that whine about the deaths of Iraqi citizens yet do not mention the death of 2500 soliders who gave their lives so Iraqis would no longer fear being rustled out of bed in the middle of the night, have their hands tied behind the back after digging a mass grave, and being shot and fall into their freshly dug pit. The child rape rooms... the torture rooms.... the courtyards where innocent Iraqis were eaten alive by dogs.

Don't tally up the lives of innocent Iraqis and write an article unless you decide to count the numbers killed by Hussein himself.... and without mentioning the innocent American soliders who gave their lives so you could vote and enjoy the tastes of democracy.

The liberal left... the enemy within. Blame America... seems it's still a blood sport.

Um, if I'm reading it correctly, the article quoted contains numbers for the numbers of Total Iraqi Deaths before the invasion (100K/year) and after (250K/year).

So I would say that the article's numbers (which I now agree, may not be really accurate) would claim that they have accounted for how many Iraqis died under Saddam.

And it's around 1/3 of how many have died under Uncle Sam.

(And no, I'm not saying that those numbers, even if they were true, prove that we shouldn't have gone. Apples and oranges. Just pointing out that "I refuse to acknowlege any information that isn't formatted thre way I want it" may not be the correct response, either.)

[Crazyhorse1]

Yeah, we're the good guys fighting for Iraqi freedom with smart bombs that kill a minimum of women and children for their own good in a totally justifiable war. Thank God such a heroic people as us and our valiant commander stride like collossi upon the earth protecting freedom. Anyone who says we've killed a lot of innocent people (more than we say we have), tortured innocents, and attacked the wrong country are just communistis traitors and should go back to Finland. Thank God Dick Cheney and Halliburton are on the job and the troops are working for low pay and buying their own armor or dying instead so we can have tax cut and we are writing our own news articles in Al Jezeera and have now made it possible for every Iraqi boy and girl to attend three years of Graduate school and get cable television. A lot of people forget what we're done for all those dead Iraqi's we've tortured and killed. Now, as dead people in Paradise they can hold their heads up higher under the banners of freedom.

[Kurd Cudins]

If they run, they're VC. If they stand still, they're well disciplined VC.

How do you shoot women and children?

Easy, you don't lead 'em as much.

I am thinking of changing my handle to The Random Movie Reference. (Great band name:doh: )

[Larry]

I think that inside every gook, is an American, trying to get out.

Why don't you get with the program, join the team, and get in for the big win?

(Don't know why, but 'horse's post has me wanting to sprout cliches.)

[Teller]

How's about:

"Rommel! You magnificent ****! I READ YOUR BOOK!"

[Larry]

Oh, the other one I was thinking of was:

Someday this war's gonna end.