Comments on: Another Bogus Study http://www.floppingaces.net/2006/10/11/another-bogus-study/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:49:48 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Dan http://www.floppingaces.net/2006/10/11/another-bogus-study/#comment-1747 Dan Fri, 01 Dec 2006 21:22:59 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2006/10/11/another-bogus-study/#comment-1747 In a chaotic state, standard record keeping can miss a lot. Hence it seems reasonable to explore the difference in estimates when interviews rather than standard records (morgues etc) are used. Given the extent to which this study indicates that we may be underestimating the death toll, it is certainly worth a follow up study with perhaps a larger and more representative sample size to ascertain the true human cost of our policy in Iraq. In a chaotic state, standard record keeping can miss a lot. Hence it seems reasonable to explore the difference in estimates when interviews rather than standard records (morgues etc) are used. Given the extent to which this study indicates that we may be underestimating the death toll, it is certainly worth a follow up study with perhaps a larger and more representative sample size to ascertain the true human cost of our policy in Iraq.

]]> By: Ed http://www.floppingaces.net/2006/10/11/another-bogus-study/#comment-1748 Ed Fri, 01 Dec 2006 21:22:59 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2006/10/11/another-bogus-study/#comment-1748 1). If you'd bother to read the study before denouncing it, you'd find that they were able to produce Death Certificates to verify 90% of the reported deaths in the sampled households. 2). Cluster Sample Surveys weakness is that they undercount rare events, not overcount. And to reiterate, this is an estimate of EXCESS Mortality. Not of occupation casualties. The mortality rate from all causes of death since the invasion are up by an estimated 650,000 from what would have occurred if the same mortality rate from the two years prior to the invasion had been maintained. In other words, things might not have been so great under Saddam, but they sure as hell haven't gotten any better so far. 1). If you’d bother to read the study before denouncing it, you’d find that they were able to produce Death Certificates to verify 90% of the reported deaths in the sampled households.

2). Cluster Sample Surveys weakness is that they undercount rare events, not overcount.

And to reiterate, this is an estimate of EXCESS Mortality. Not of occupation casualties. The mortality rate from all causes of death since the invasion are up by an estimated 650,000 from what would have occurred if the same mortality rate from the two years prior to the invasion had been maintained.

In other words, things might not have been so great under Saddam, but they sure as hell haven’t gotten any better so far.

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