WA POST: Experts Doubt Drop In Violence in Iraq - Military Statistics Called Into Question

[L. Coyote]

Experts Doubt Drop In Violence in Iraq
Military Statistics Called Into Question
By Karen DeYoung - September 6, 2007; Page A16
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/05/AR2007090502466.html?hpid=topnews


The U.S. military's claim that violence has decreased sharply in Iraq in recent months has come under scrutiny from many experts within and outside the government, who contend that some of the underlying statistics are questionable and selectively ignore negative trends.

Reductions in violence form the centerpiece of the Bush administration's claim that its war strategy is working. In congressional testimony Monday, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, is expected to cite a 75 percent decrease in sectarian attacks. According to senior U.S. military officials in Baghdad, overall attacks in Iraq were down to 960 a week in August, compared with 1,700 a week in June, and civilian casualties had fallen 17 percent between December 2006 and last month. Unofficial Iraqi figures show a similar decrease.

Others who have looked at the full range of U.S. government statistics on violence, however, accuse the military of cherry-picking positive indicators and caution that the numbers -- most of which are classified -- are often confusing and contradictory. "Let's just say that there are several different sources within the administration on violence, and those sources do not agree," Comptroller General David Walker told Congress .........

[Newsjock]

1. Back there on Page A16

... along with all of Pincus' pre-war cautionary tales.

[L. Coyote]

2. As if there was an independent media in Iraq! US taxpayers pay for propaganda

called news in Iraq. US occupation took over all media at a cost of over $100 MILLION.