[thechat] When is it time for war?

[deacon b.]

> do you know how many needless infant deaths have occurred in iraq due
> to UN ECONOMIC SANCTIONS?
> unicef reports that number to be 500,000 since 1996. thats just kids
> under 5, and thats only since 1996.

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

I haven't bothered to notice whether you are anti-
war, or pro-war; I just noticed the offensive misuse 
of statistics.

http://www.unicef.org/reseval/pdfs/irqu5est.pdf

The half-million is based on the eight-year period, 
from 1991-1998, not the six-year period from 1996 
to 2003. There aren't any statistics for 2003, 
obviously, since most of 2003 hasn't happened yet. 

How do they calculate that half million?  They 
compare actual under-five mortality with a rate of 30 
per 1000. But has Iraq *ever* had an under-five 
mortality of 30 per 1000? No. Never. Their best rate 
ever was about 45.

Nor do they say it's due to UN economic sanctions. 
It could be due to drought, or AIDS, or home-
schooling, sitting too close to the TV, or washing 
down poprocks with Coke. 

The current rate is about 130. Not anything to be 
happy about, but it's still better than a lot of other 
countries, During 1980 and 1995, Laos had rates of 
142-182, Madagascar had 163-194, and Malawi had  
234-258. 

What's *their* excuse?  I wasn't aware that there 
were UN sanctions against any of *those* countries.

deke




--

RIP Adam Osborne, 1939-2003
And 23 pounds of thanks!