Iraq
The US is now the "occupying power" in Iraq. How is it progressing? What are the patterns ... or contrasts? Are there parallels to Israel's role in the occupied territories?
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Newspaper Marks 1000 Days of Iraq War with Key Stats
Newspaper Marks 1000 Days of Iraq War with Key Stats: "By E&P Staff | Published: December 13, 2005 10:30 AM ET
NEW YORK To mark what it called the '1000 Days' of the Iraq war, the London daily The Independent offered extensive coverage today, featuring a by-the-numbers approach.
Here are some of their calculations:
$204.4 billion: The cost to the U.S of the war so far.
2,339: Allied troops killed
15,955: US troops wounded in action
98: U.K troops killed
30,000 : Estimated Iraqi civilian deaths
0: Number of WMDs found
66: Journalists killed in Iraq.
63: Journalists killed during Vietnam war
8: per cent of Iraqi children suffering acute malnutrition
53,470: Iraqi insurgents killed
67: per cent Iraqis who feel less secure because of occupation
$343: Average monthly salary for an Iraqi soldier. Average monthly salary for an American soldier in Iraq: $4,160.75
5: foreign civilians kidnapped per month
47: per cent Iraqis who never have enough electricity
20: casualties per month from unexploded mines
25-40: per cent Estimated unemployment rate, Nov 2005
251: Foreigners kidnapped
70: per cent of Iraqi's whose sewage system rarely works
183,000: British and American troops are still in action in Iraq.
13,000: from other nations
90: Daily attacks by insurgents in Nov '05. In Jun '03: 8
60-80: per cent Iraqis who are 'strongly opposed' to presence of coalition troops"
Monday, December 12, 2005
Iraqis: two-thirds Oppose Troops' Presence; Half now say the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was wrong; 44 percent say their country is better off now
Poll: Most Iraqis Oppose Troops' Presence - Yahoo! News: "
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer Mon Dec 12, 8:47 AM ET
WASHINGTON - Most Iraqis disapprove of the presence of U.S. forces in their country, yet they are optimistic about
Iraq's future and their own personal lives, according to a new poll.
More than two-thirds of those surveyed oppose the presence of troops from the United States and its coalition partners and less than half, 44 percent, say their country is better off now than it was before the war, according to an ABC News poll conducted with Time magazine and other media partners.
...
_Two-thirds express confidence in the Iraqi army and in police.
_Half now say the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was wrong, up from 39 percent in February 2004.
_More than six in 10 say they feel safe in their neighborhoods, up from 40 percent in June 2004.
_Six in 10 say local security is good, up from half in February 2004.
But the national concern mentioned most often is security, named by 57 percent.
A fourth of those surveyed, 26 percent, say U.S. forces should leave now, and another 19 percent say troops should leave after those chosen in this week's election take office. The other half say U.S. troops should stay until security is restored, 31 percent, until Iraqi forces can operate independently, 16 percent, or longer, 5 percent. ...
