Bush wrong when he says Iraq security better

Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 | 10 p.m.

Why is it that everyone in the American media dutifully reports the Bush administration's invalid claim that security in Iraq is improving, when the most basic common-sense measure of a nation's security (violent death of its citizens) says otherwise?

By all accounts more Iraqis have already died this year of violence than in all of 2006. How is it that this simple fact eludes out “free and open press,” which in my opinion is derelict in not challenging Bush's claims of improved security.

Consider this analogy: If five people died of violence in Mayberry RFD in 1962 and by August 1963 eight people had died of violence in that year to date, would Andy tell the citizens of Mayberry they were safer than they were last year?

The Bush administration's recent statements about Vietnam are equally ridiculous. Our leaving Vietnam did not cause the Khmer Rouge killing fields. They were the ultimate unintended result of our massive bombing of Cambodia and the destabilization it caused.

As for his inference that leaving Iraq could result in boat people, what does he think the 2 million (and growing) Iraqis who have fled to other countries are?

This administration says it, our media report it. No wonder MSNBC's Keith Olbermann signs off his broadcast with “good luck.”

Bob Coffman, Las Vegas

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