Shame

The Lancet publishes a study indicating 655,000 excess deaths (95% CI 393,000-943,000) since the start of the Iraq war. The criticisms of the study, which uses standard cluster sampling, have been pathetic. 'I don't believe it', then the next resort 'the dead are combatants'. With some statistical expertise, be assured that the methodology and calculations are not suspect. Just try to imagine two thirds of a million corpses and not feel physically sick.

Last night, the head of the UK army, General Richard Dannett, came out for troop withdrawal from Iraq as soon as possible. He therefore doesn't seem impressed by Blair's propaganda at the conference that the Army will have whatever funding they need to conduct their operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. This morning, he's performing damage limitation on R4's Today programme, but still saying that indefinite occupation is not in the best interests of Iraq people or the soldier boys and girls.