Juan Cole: Deadliest July Yet

[Strelnikov_]

http://www.juancole.com/

2007 saw the deadliest July for US troops since the Iraq War began. It also saw a 23% rise in Iraqi deaths over June. July is like a blast furnace in Iraq, with temperatures approaching 120 degrees F. in the shade. Guerrillas typically lie low in this unfavorable environment, compared to other seasons, and so the casualty rates go down. Instead, this year the killing season has gone on as if it were spring.

. . .

AP adds: "Iraqi deaths rose, with at least 2,024 civilians, government officials and security forces killed in July, about 23 percent more than the 1,640 who died violently in June, according to Associated Press figures compiled from police reports nationwide."

Pentagon spokesmen are attempting to portray this near doubling of July troop deaths as a sign of improvement on the security side, counting from June rather than looking at past July figures-- and I fear some corporate media are falling for it.

I saw Michael O'Hanlon of Brookings on CNN Sunday saying he thought that the violence was less now. (O'Hanlon and Ken Pollack also gave us that uh, optimistic, op-ed about 'a war we could win' in the NYT.) I'd be interested in knowing how he is measuring this supposed fall in violence. If it is the deadliest July ever for US troops in Iraq; if there is a 23% increase in Iraqi deaths over June; if there were more attacks in June than any time since April 2003-- how is that a decrease in violence? Somebody explain that to me.

[malaise]

1. No ratiional human being

believes O'Hanlon.

[bryant69]

5. Fortunately the Media ran out all the rational human beings.

They were just gumming things up anyway.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[godai]

2. MSM is saying troops deaths are way down from June

No mention of the fact that July last year had many fewer deaths than this July, as noted in the Juan Cole article. There obviously is a plan to sell the surge in September with all the phony positive reports now. The NY times piece seems like a Judy Miller-like plant, with cheney referring to it as evidence that minds are changing, just like with the Miller piece was used years ago.

Here's what I think they are planning. Gradually declare the surge a success, while talking up the unimaginable disaster if we were to pull out. Then, pull out gradually, based on the success of the surge. There will be no unimaginable disaster, then they will try to take credit for 'victory'. Don't bet on this not working. It will all be timed leading up to the next presidential election.

[Octafish]

3. NPR fell for it.

The tiresome lead announcer said July was the month with the fewest U.S. fatalities of the year. He didn't explain anything about last year's numbers.

[Bitwit1234]

4. Just watching C=SPAN 2.

for a moment. And some republican senator has the nerve to stand up there and say that we are WINNING in Iraq.

The republicans were and still are calling democrats traitors and committing treason etc. I think the shoe is on the other foot. These grown men are standing in front of this country and mouthing bush and cheney's talking points. They know darn well that the war is going badly. That there is no end or victory in sight. That all we are doing is sending more and more money into a cesspit. And worst of all more and more of our military are dying for bush's and the republicans profit. They are trying to spin the war so as to make bush look good. It is outrageous and THAT MY FRIENDS is the real treason.

Why can't we hold all these republican congressmen and women as well as bush, cheney, rove and the republic al cabal ALL accountable for treason. They should ALL be locked up and their citizenship stripped from them.

It makes me ill just to watch them spot their lies. And I need to ask one more question, have you ever, and I know I haven't and I'm 75 years old, heard one democrat ever get up in front of the American people like these republicans do and spout these treasonist lies.

[KoKo]

6. Yes...they were Spinning it on CNN this a.m. as "improvement." n/t

[ProSense]

7. How's the surge working? Facts and figures for May through July 2003-2007

How's the surge working? Facts and figures for May through July 2003-2007