This morning I heard a report on TV – Fox I think, but it could have been CNN, about the mounting death toll in Iraq. The hawk guest quickly noted that Saddam killed an estimated 35 people per day from the time he took control of Iraq. 35 per day! That’s a staggering number.
And then I thought, hmm, how many people have died since the beginning of the war? The war started on March 19, 2003 and has been going for 467 days if my math is correct.
Casualties:
Iraqi civilians (estimate): 9451 to 11,333
Iraqi soldiers (estimate): 4,895 to 6,370
U.S. soldiers: 854
This is certainly not a complete list, but for the sake of argument let’s assume it is, and let’s just look at the Iraqi casualties mentioned here. With that we have the following estimates:
(9451 + 4895)/467 = 30.7 dead Iraqis per day minimum
(6370 + 11,333)/467 = 37.9 dead Iraqis per day maximum
So, to liberate Iraq from a dictator who killed 35 Iraqis per day, on average, our actions have directly or indirectly caused the deaths of 31 to 38 Iraqis per day, on average. In other words, it is basically a statistical wash.
I’m sure Iraqis take comfort in knowing that, though they are dying at the same rate, they are dying for a better cause.
Let freedom reign!
More fun with statistics: Iraqi death toll
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12 responses to “More fun with statistics: Iraqi death toll”
Yes, but Saddam killed good Iraqis and we only kill bad ones.
I’ve actually heard from several sources that the estimates on civilian Iraqi deaths are extremely low. Some estimates go as high as 50,000. Perhaps we should look at who’s doing the estimates….
“You” do not only kill the bad ones. You might aim for them, but unfortunately the good ones tend to get in the line of fire occasionally.
You forgot to include the amount of US soldiers killed in your little mathmatical argument. Not to mention the amount of people dying from lack of food, water, and shelter because of the American attacks.
But atleast we can drive our ford pickups with our rebel flags and not have to give a damn right? I joined the Marines to defend a country. Not terrorize another.
I’ve been wondering about Iraqi death toll since we are nearing 1,000. I wonder how many will ever even the score of 911?
I think we should get Bonus count if they publucaly execute Saddam and Ossama.
Loss of life, innocent or otherwise is always sad. We do not live in a perfect world. Sadaam was entertaining ways to develop WMD’s and he supported terrorism. Not only was he killing his own people, he torutured them. His sons we’re torturing people and raping women regularly. An evil cannot be wiped out without sacrifices from all. But the greater good will be served.
ANYONE WHO DOESN’T REALIZE THAT SEPT. 11TH
WAS AN ACT CARRIED OUT BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO A PRIVATE INVESTIGATION OF THEIR OWN. THE FACTS NOT ONLY CLEARLY INDICATE THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACKS AHEAD OF TIME, BUT ALSO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN A COVER UP OF THE FACTS SURROUNDING THIS TRAGEDY IF YOU WANT ANSWERS NOW GO TO http://WWW.WHATREALLYHAPPENED.COM
ANYONE WHO DOESN’T REALIZE THAT SEPT. 11TH
WAS AN ACT CARRIED OUT BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO A PRIVATE INVESTIGATION OF THEIR OWN. THE FACTS NOT ONLY CLEARLY INDICATE THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACKS AHEAD OF TIME, BUT ALSO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN A COVER UP OF THE FACTS SURROUNDING THIS TRAGEDY IF YOU WANT ANSWERS NOW GO TO http://WWW.WHATREALLYHAPPENED.COM
Agree or disagree with the war on terror.
Believe or disbelieve in our government.
Vote or do not vote.
These are all our rights, and these right are provided by freedom, freedom given to us by the men and women who have fought and died for our country.
Yes, we lost lives in this war, as we have in many other wars, but please remember the difference here, the soldiers that went to Iraq new where they were going, what they were doing.
They did not enlist imagining that the training they were about to go through was outdated and a thing of the past.
They knew that this was in preparation for a career in defending their country, and they chose to do so.
That does not devalue their lives in the least, they are still very much a part of the loss America has suffered, but those men women and children who were murdered not only in 911 but in all the terrorist attacks that have occurred in the last twenty years were not soldiers, they were innocent civilians.
They were murdered.
At least respect the soldiers who decided for themselves when they enlisted that they disagreed with torture rape and murder, and that they wanted to fight it.
At least allow them their freedom, I think they deserve it, after all, they have given us ours.
I notice not many people care about what the Iraqis think.
I mean the common folk, not the soldiers.
Would they really be cheering in the streets when we came to liberate them if they didn’t want us there ?
I seem to remember another country who celebrated our liberating them after hitler was murderering them in masses.
Thats right, it was france.
Maybe they decided only a chosen few deserve freedom.
Thanks for backing us up france, was it really so hard to deny the oil Sadaam offered you as a bribe ?
Or did you just forget we helped you out all those years ago.
Some of you blind American patriots disgust me. Actually no, you all do! Just as many people die under US rule as Saddam’s yuo idiot Patriot, you are the ignorant one. Dave, it is the ordinary Iraqis fighting US and UK troops! Denise maybe your opening line is a little extreme? Bobbi, what planet are you from?!?!?!?!? Saddam was NOT developing WMD’s there is no proof he even WANTED to try again!!And he most certainly did NOT support terrorism there were NO LINKS to al-Quaeda! I say again NO LINKS!!!!!! Jim, i hope you are being sarcastic. If so, nice one. Robert, damn right! Michael and Another European, i love you guys. Moose n. squirrel, if yuo are not being sarcastic then may you burn in the fires of hell. Or Iraq’s oilfields. Boris, thank you for this opportunity to vent.