Baghdad civilian death totals are extreme
Aug. 21, 2005 at 12:09PM
Civilian deaths in Baghdad in July were more than New York City had in all of 2004, and that's excluding car bombings and suicide bombings.
Time magazine reports the surge in non-combat related violence is due to the various sects in Iraq who want to start a civil war.
Reports that death squads are entering quiet Baghdad neighborhoods and killing innocent civilians are growing.
Baghdad central morgue director, Faiq Amin Bakr, said 880 violent deaths occurred in the city in July.
There are more than 5 million people living in Baghdad.
In New York City, with a population of about 8 million, 571 people were killed in 2004.
In Baghdad, another 100 people were killed by terrorism in July.
washtimes.com
Bush Says Pleased with Progress in Iraq
Reuters
Tuesday 31 May 2005
Washington - Despite mounting casualties in Iraq, President Bush on Tuesday said he was pleased with the progress being made there and that the new government will halt the deadly insurgency.
"I'm pleased with the progress," Bush told a news conference in the White House Rose Garden. "I am pleased that in less than a year's time there is a democratically elected government in Iraq, there are thousands of Iraqi soldiers trained and better equipped to fight for their own country."
Bush acknowledged the violent insurgency in Iraq continues to take lives. More than 1,600 Americans have been killed since Bush ousted Saddam Hussein in April 2003. Seventy U.S. troops have been killed in May, making it the deadliest month for the U.S. military since January when insurgents tried to derail the first post-Saddam elections in Iraq.
But he expressed confidence the fledgling government would be able to get the situation under control and said he was hopeful American troops would soon be able to come home.
"I believe that the Iraqi government's going to be plenty capable of dealing with them (insurgents), and our job is to help train them so that they can," Bush said.
"And when they're ready, we'll come home. And I hope that's sooner rather than later."
Bush added, "A free Iraq is in our nation's long term interests, a democracy in the heart of the Middle East is an essential part of securing our country and promoting peace for the long run."
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