01 September 2007

Lies, damn lies, statistics

So who's right? Relying on American casualty figures can one say that things are getting better in Iraq, getting worse or simply staying bad? Much of the news media has chosen the things are getting better option based on very short term statistics for the past month and over looking the fact that the past three months are the worst summer period since the illegal invasion. In reality if one is to use these figures both sets need to be discussed and a conclusion reached that things are probably much the same UNLESS the short term statistics hold up over a longer time period.

But then that would be a serious and carefully considered analysis and why would the media bother with that when you can just flash up a "troops deaths down" graphic instead?

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