Counting the dead gets more complicated in Iraq

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Counting the dead gets more complicated in Iraq

By KIM GAMEL – 1 hour ago

BAGHDAD (AP) — This much is agreed — a double bombing
in Baghdad struck a school bus and those responding to
the first blast. But the difference in casualty figures
was stark. Iraqi officials said 31 people died; the U.S.
military put the death toll at five.

The conflicting reports from Monday's attack are
emblematic of a spate of recent bombings that have
raised fears of a resurgence in violence.

There have always been disagreements because accurately
counting the dead in the chaos of Iraq's war has never
been easy. Yet discrepancies appear to be widening as
the political stakes grow.

U.S. officials privately say that some officials in the
Shiite-dominated Interior and Health ministries could
possibly have political or personal motives for inflating
casualty numbers for bombings in mainly Shiite areas.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gecoMwqdk1x3JPmA7MtTOYvX9LbgD94ESB100

[lob1]

1. The casualty count of our soldiers has never ever been correct.

Bush doesn't even count the mercenaries, and they are a large part of our force. They have other tricks to lower the body count, like just lying.

typo edit.

[ManiacJoe]

2. Define "large part of our forces".

How many security contractors do you think are over there? Or are you counting all the contractors?

[Breeze54]

4. Fuck the 'mercenaries' !!

:grr:

[Breeze54]

3. As usual... Iraqi's are "exaggerating" and the US Military knows how to count.

Yeah... riiiggghhhtt! :sarcasm: