Coalition troops responsible for 60% of civilian deaths and injuries |
| Posted by: h@ts | | Here's a surprising statistic. You wouldn't get the impression that the coalition is killing more than the insurgents from watching the news.
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BBC obtains Iraq casualty figures
Coalition troops and Iraqi security forces may be responsible for up to 60% of conflict-related civilian deaths in Iraq - far more than are killed by insurgents, confidential records obtained by the BBC's Panorama programme reveal.
Official figures, compiled by Iraq's Ministry of Health, break down deaths according to insurgent and coalition activity. They are usually available only to Iraqi cabinet ministers.
The data covers the period 1 July 2004 to 1 January 2005, and relates to all conflict-related civilian deaths and injuries recorded by Iraqi public hospitals. The figures exclude, where known, the deaths of insurgents.
The figures reveal that 3,274 Iraqi civilians were killed and 12,657 wounded in conflict-related violence during the period.
Of those deaths, 60% - 2,041 civilians - were killed by the coalition and Iraqi security forces. A further 8,542 were wounded by them.
Insurgent attacks claimed 1,233 lives, and wounded 4,115 people, during the same period.
Panorama interviewed US Ambassador John Negroponte shortly before it obtained the figures. He told reporter John Simpson:
"My impression is that the largest amount of civilian casualties definitely is a result of these indiscriminate car bombings.
"You yourself are aware of those as they occur in the Baghdad area and more frequently than not the largest number of victims of these acts of terror are innocent civilian bystanders".
The coalition has yet to respond to the figures.
Panorama's film Exit Strategy, reported by BBC world affairs editor John Simpson from Baghdad, will be shown at 2215 GMT, Sunday night on BBC One. |
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| Posted by: Sayzak | | How is it that the BBC got these statistics? Just wondering.
I like the disclaimer: "Coalition troops and Iraqi security forces may be responsible for up to 60% of conflict-related civilian deaths in Iraq..." | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: h@ts | | The point is the media gets blamed by many people for being biased in showing how bad the insurgency is, when in reality it is the coalition forces that are killing the majority of Iraqi civilians. This has not been reported on television. | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: Edward Teach | | The article contradicts itself
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Panorama interviewed US Ambassador John Negroponte shortly before it obtained the figures. He told reporter John Simpson:
"My impression is that the largest amount of civilian casualties definitely is a result of these indiscriminate car bombings.
"You yourself are aware of those as they occur in the Baghdad area and more frequently than not the largest number of victims of these acts of terror are innocent civilian bystanders".
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| Posted by: Dekka00 | | Ron: learn to read. Those are the words of the Ambassador. He obviously didn't know what he was talking about. | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: Edward Teach | | Oh so now you insult me and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and former U.S. Ambassador to the UN. Don't go there! | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: Dekka00 | |
| quote: |
BBC obtains Iraq casualty figures
Coalition troops and Iraqi security forces may be responsible for up to 60% of conflict-related civilian deaths in Iraq - far more than are killed by insurgents, confidential records obtained by the BBC's Panorama programme reveal.
Official figures, compiled by Iraq's Ministry of Health, break down deaths according to insurgent and coalition activity. They are usually available only to Iraqi cabinet ministers.
The data covers the period 1 July 2004 to 1 January 2005, and relates to all conflict-related civilian deaths and injuries recorded by Iraqi public hospitals. The figures exclude, where known, the deaths of insurgents.
The figures reveal that 3,274 Iraqi civilians were killed and 12,657 wounded in conflict-related violence during the period.
Of those deaths, 60% - 2,041 civilians - were killed by the coalition and Iraqi security forces. A further 8,542 were wounded by them.
Insurgent attacks claimed 1,233 lives, and wounded 4,115 people, during the same period.
Panorama interviewed US Ambassador John Negroponte shortly before it obtained the figures. He told reporter John Simpson:
"My impression is that the largest amount of civilian casualties definitely is a result of these indiscriminate car bombings.
"You yourself are aware of those as they occur in the Baghdad area and more frequently than not the largest number of victims of these acts of terror are innocent civilian bystanders".
The coalition has yet to respond to the figures.
Panorama's film Exit Strategy, reported by BBC world affairs editor John Simpson from Baghdad, will be shown at 2215 GMT, Sunday night on BBC One. |
I guess you didn't read carefully enough. Sorry I insulted you, I have made similar mistakes too.
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| Posted by: asantana | | Civilians may be caught by cross fire, I don’t believe that any uniformed soldier will shoot and kill a civilian for the fun of it, don’t forget that the insurgents are also in a civilian out fits and not in uniforms. | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: HECK! | | It's not like the insurgants are wearing uniforms, the Happy Time Coalition of Universal Peace and Happiness In Iraq is probably shooting first, asking questions later.
-HECK! | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: Edward Teach | | American Troops are not taught to Shot First. They are taught to Fire when Fired Upon. In some instances they will send a squad walking down the middle of the street to draw fire. Once they are fired upon then they will fire back. | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: Dekka00 | | most of those deaths were probably during the initial bombing anyway. | | Reply To this Message
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Iraq Forum: Coalition troops responsible for 60% of civilian deaths and injuries
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