Reply #10: Americans Underestimate Iraqi Death Toll

[Mnemosyne]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DEATH_IN_IRAQ_AP_POLL?SITE=ILEDW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

(bold mine)

Feb 24, 12:02 PM EST

By NANCY BENAC
Associated Press Writer

Americans Underestimate Iraqi Death Toll

snip>

Among those polled for the AP survey, however, the median estimate of Iraqi deaths was 9,890. The median is the point at which half the estimates were higher and half lower.

Christopher Gelpi, a Duke University political scientist who tracks public opinion on war casualties, said a better understanding of the Iraqi death toll probably wouldn't change already negative public attitudes toward the war much. People in democracies generally don't shy away from inflicting civilian casualties, he said, and they may be even more tolerant of them in situations such as Iraq, where many of the civilian deaths are caused by other Iraqis.

"You have to look at who's doing the killing,"

said Neal Crawford, a restaurant manager in Suttons Bay, Mich., who guessed that about 10,000 Iraqis had been killed. "If these people are dying because a roadside bomb goes off or if there's an insurgent attack in a marketplace, it's an unfortunate circumstance of war - people die."

Gelpi said that while Americans

may not view Iraqi deaths through the same prism as American losses, they may use the Iraqi death toll to gauge progress, or lack thereof,

on the U.S. effort to promote a stable, secure democracy in Iraq.

snip>

"People in democracies generally don't shy away from inflicting civilian casualties, he said, and they may be even more tolerant of them in situations such as Iraq, where many of the civilian deaths are caused by other Iraqis."

TOLERANT, of other people's deaths and despair!

How wonderfully civil of them. :wtf:

I watched "Orwell Rolls in His Grave" last night and "The Corporation" several weeks ago. The truth will never be known of exactly how many Iraqi' people end up dead for lies and corporate profits, and the true American toll will never be known either, imo.

I am sickened that most Americans would choose to live in ignorance of the death and devastation our government has caused and continues to cause world-wide, not just in Iraq/Afghanistan. I am further sickened by the fact that many are using the excuse that it's mostly Iraqi's killing Iraqi's!

General Frankie boy said near the beginning of this massacre: "We don't do body counts." and I believe this is one of the reasons most do not know the truer numbers. Of course, we know how much more valuable the American lives are than the Iraqi's, so it's no wonder most haven't a clue as to the more stunning numbers of the Iraqi death toll. It eases the conscience of the "average" American. The Iraqi death toll ( as best can be figured) should be included in any report listing the American death toll.

And just wait for the future devastation caused by our use of depleted uranium! It couldn't care less if you are an American or an Iraqi. :grr: