It must really stink to the Pentagon crowd when someone else actually checks your so-called facts and figures. The Pentagon trick to suddenly stop counting certain kinds of deaths in Iraq (because we all know how being blown to bits is much different than being shot on the street) is business as usual for the administration which struggles with the truth on a daily basis. This UN report also helps to understand the quick about face by the army with their "troops are coming home/uh-oh, we might have to add more" spin. The violence in Iraq just continues to get worse. Even the UN admits that their numbers may be low.
The report from the U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq offered a grim assessment of other indicators, from unlawful detentions to the growth of sectarian militias and death squads, and a rise in "honor killings" of women.The report raises new questions about U.S. and Iraqi forces' ability to bring peace to Baghdad, where the bulk of the violent deaths occurred. Iraq's government, set up in 2006, is "currently facing a generalized breakdown of law and order which presents a serious challenge to the institutions of Iraq," it said.
According to past U.N. reports, 710 civilians were killed in January, 1,129 in April, 2,669 in May and 3,149 in June.
Violent civilian deaths in July reached an unprecedented high of 3,590 people, an average of more than 100 a day, the new report said. The August toll was 3,009 people, the report said.
Of the total for July and August, the report said 5,106 of the dead were from Baghdad.
But those in Baghdad should remember that the right wing pro-war/pro-torture pundits always tell us how American cities are actually more violent, so they should be OK and feel better knowing this "truth." I think we all are familiar with all of the American cities who have experienced over 5,100 dead in two months, right?
