I hadn't known before that Lafta, the person who actually did the surveys, actually worked for the Hussein regime to produce data to argue that the sanctions were killing Iraqis. Suspicious, to say the least.
Add to that the clearly fraudulent Sadr City and Nineveh numbers, and this whole study collapses like a house of cards.
Typical political agendas masquerading as science.
Good rule of thumb: If scientists are extrapolating from small survey samples to generate large numbers of ANYTHING, they are almost always exaggerating and inflating numbers for either financial or political purposes.
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.
Add to that the clearly fraudulent Sadr City and Nineveh numbers, and this whole study collapses like a house of cards.
It was always preposterous and transparent that a medical journal would get into the body-count business in a war zone.
Good rule of thumb: If scientists are extrapolating from small survey samples to generate large numbers of ANYTHING, they are almost always exaggerating and inflating numbers for either financial or political purposes.
HankB
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.