Tuesday, June 28, 2005
SO, YOU REALLY THINK THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER IN IRAQ?
IRAQ: THEN AND NOW (excerpt from THE INDEPENDENT, http://news.independent.co.uk)AVEREAGE DAILY ATTACKS BY INSURGENTS
Pre-war March 2003: 0
Handover June 2004: 45
Now: 70
Analysis: Figures should be viewed with caution because US military often does not record attacks if there are no American casualties.
TOTAL NUMBER OF COALITION TROOPS KILLED
Pre-war March 2003: 0
Handover June 2004: 982
Now: 1,930
Analysis: Number of US troops killed increased sharply during Fallujah fighting in April and November 2004.
IRAQI CIVILIANS KILLED
Pre-war March 2003: n/a
Handover June 2004: 10,000
Now: 60,800 (includes 23,000 crime-related deaths)
Analysis: Estimates of Iraqi civilian deaths have varied widely because the US military does not count them.
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY (megwatts generated)
Pre-war March 2003: 3,958
Handover June 2004: 4,293
Now: 4,035
Analysis: Coalition is way behind its goal of providing 6,000 megawatts by July 2004. Most Iraqis do not have a reliable electricity supply.
UNEMPLOYED
Pre-war March 2003: n/a
Handover June 2004: 40%
Now: 40%
Analysis: More than a third of young people are unemployed, a cause for social unrest. Many security men stay home, except on payday.
TELEPHONES
Pre-war March 2003: 833,000 (landlines only)
Handover June 2004: 1.2m (includes mobiles)
Now: 3.1m
Analysis: Landlines are extremely unreliable and mobile phone system could be improved.
PRIMARY SCHOOL ACCESS
Pre-war March 2003: 3.6m
Handover June 2004: 4.3m
Now: n/a
Analysis: 83 per cent of boys and 79 per cent of girls in primary schools. But figures mask declining literacy and failure rate.
OIL PRODUCTION (barrels per day)
Pre-war March 2003: 2.5m
Handover June 2004: 2.29m
Now: 2.20m
Analysis: Sustainability of Iraqi oilfields has been jeopardised to boost output. Oil facilities regularly targeted by insurgents.
28 June 2005 See entire story HERE.
OTHER NEWS:
HALIBURTON OVERCHARGES: 1.4 BILLION (AGAIN)
Once again, Pentagon auditors are charging Haliburton with overcharging the US government by 1.4 billion dollars. See the entire story HERE.
UN: US SECRETLY DETAINING TERRORISM SUSPECTS ON PRISON SHIPS
Story HERE
