Incalculable Pain

The Pentagon is underreporting the number of American soldier casualties in Iraq, say House Democrats.

By Mark Benjamin

A group of seven House Democrats wrote President Bush this week, accusing the Pentagon of underreporting casualties in Iraq. It's a shocking charge. The letter writers argue that Pentagon casualty reports show only a sliver of the injuries, mostly physical ones from bombs or bullets. But war doesn't work like that, the Democrats declare, adding that the reports skip a horrible panoply of accidents, illness, disease and mental trauma.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11287.htm

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/121005D.shtml


Informant: Russ Ferriday

In a shocking charge a group of seven House Democrats wrote President Bush this week, accusing the Pentagon of under-reporting casualties in Iraq.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/121105X.shtml

A U.S. investigation into allegations that the American military is buying positive coverage in the Iraqi media has expanded to examine a press club founded and financed by the U.S. Army.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-12-08-media-probe_x.htm


From Information Clearing House

By Cihan, aa

As the presence of foreign troops in Iraq is under debate, the largest Shiite and Sunni groups issued a declaration on Friday demanding a deadline announcement for the US pullout.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11272.htm



If America Left Iraq

The case for cutting and running

By Nir Rosen

At some point—whether sooner or later—U.S. troops will leave Iraq. I have spent much of the occupation reporting from Baghdad, Kirkuk, Mosul, Fallujah, and elsewhere in the country, and I can tell you that a growing majority of Iraqis would like it to be sooner.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11273.htm

The video footage that appears to show private security contractors firing on Iraqi civilians has prompted an investigation by the US military, a spokesman said Thursday, and by the company linked to the incidents.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120905A.shtml

Despite President Bush's optimism on Iraq's reconstruction, the country appears set to pump less crude in 2005 than last year's disappointing showing and far less than under Saddam Hussein.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/09/business/news/16_31_3912_8_05.txt


From Information Clearing House

PRIME Minister John Howard has received an obvious but unwelcome message from his Turkish counterpart: Iraq is going badly.

http://tinyurl.com/b48j3


From Information Clearing House

Hidden in Plane Sight:

U.S. Media Dodging Air War in Iraq: there are strong indications that the U.S. military command will intensify its bombardment of Iraq while reducing the presence of American occupying troops before the U.S. congressional elections next fall. With the White House eager to show progress toward U.S. disengagement from Iraq, we should expect enormous media spin to accompany any pullout of troops in 2006.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11258.htm