Statistics the MSM ignores..

The Foreign Nationals captured is interesting.  I notice it going down.  I hope that is because they are getting fewer and fewer.

If you look at the comments by Gen Lynch, thats exactly what he thinks is happening. Good Call Doc.

The best stats will be when they all are getting smaller (except perhaps the tips).  But each one is a good indication.

These stats are rather meaningless without the other side of the story. I.e. how many people have been kidnapped, killed, injured, how many bombs exploded, the score of the terrorists/freedom fighters/criminals so to say.

My guess is that those numbers are not so good, in which case it might indeed be better to say nothing at all.

You don't watch the news on TV? Or read the newspaper? Or browse the news web sites? All the information you want on the numbers you are looking for is there in big bold headlines. Its the other side you can't find. The numbers of innocent civilians being killed by the terrorist is too high, one is too high. But you will find that the number of attacks has dropped dramtatically, a quote from MG. Lynch;

“We believe that 90 percent of the suicide attacks in are conducted by foreign fighters. Last year this time, across , we were averaging about 75 suicide attacks a day. Now we’re averaging about 24 a day. One of the reasons for that drawdown is not that Zarqawi and al-Qaida doesn’t want to do it anymore, but effective border operations have been capturing foreign nationals at the border. “Just before the first of the year, we were averaging about 44 captured foreign nationals per month, and now we’re down to less than half of that.”

Guess your not following the conflict to closley, you woudl realize that things have quited down quite a bit, although to listen to the MSM you would think it was getting worse. I get e-mails weekly from my buds on the ground there, they say its getting "boring" in parts as things are that quite. Now thats what I like, a "boring" war zone. Means thingsare getting better.

My guess is that those numbers are not so good, in which case it might indeed be better to say nothing at all.

Say nothing at all?? Thats better than speaking out and making sure that the WHOLE story is told? The MSM tells you fo the death and destruction by the terrorist, I choose to tell the other side, the side where we are killing the terrorist, capturing them, finding the bombs (before they explode) and so on. Say nothing at all?? Thats just what the MSM would love to hear....

Clearly, if this is from a DOD press release 1. it must be truthful, and 2. no research is needed. Now, if you believe this the boys in the Pentagon will sell you another war. Here's the thing, all news organizations get these press releases. Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN...no one reports them because its sort of like reading the stats on hog futures from the Chicago market.

The MSM doesn't report these facts because it would just kill the Hate America Uber Alles crowd to hear anything but negative about Iraq.

:::: Spit on an AP Reporter today! I promise, you'll feel better :::::

Clearly, if this is from a DOD press release 1. it must be truthful, and 2. no research is needed. Now, if you believe this the boys in the Pentagon will sell you another war. Here's the thing, all news organizations get these press releases. Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN...no one reports them because its sort of like reading the stats on hog futures from the Chicago market.

1. The "boys at the pentagon" don't sell the wars, just fight them.

2. I think that the job our soldiers are doing is a tad more interesting than "hog futures".

If you use your intellect and read the numbers you have to wonder why these types of things are not included when "Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN" reports that bomb blew up in Iraq today killing 8, while they fail to tell you that we found and safely disabled 20 others and killed 12 terrorist. Thats more important to me.

Clearly, if this is from a DOD press release 1. it must be truthful, and 2. no research is needed. Now, if you believe this the boys in the Pentagon will sell you another war. Here's the thing, all news organizations get these press releases. Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN...no one reports them because its sort of like reading the stats on hog futures from the Chicago market.

Miss the Palms together.

I dont think he is saying that at all.  However, given the errors in the MSM, the DOD is as believable as any other outlet.  Yes, question it.  But dont ignore it is what SW is saying.

WPT,

1. The "boys at the pentagon" don't sell the wars, just fight them.

Ha! I never saw anyone from the Pentagon fight anywhere other than perhaps in a beltway bar and if they did it was years ago while stuck at some base camp. Its all about dollars. What a former president called a military-idustrial complex, you know that sort of thing we have with Haliburton and our VP, oh darn, not supposed to say that. I get accused of being a liberal anti-Busher. Oh well.

The other thing about such numbers, as I hinted at earlier, they are very often made-up by weary field commanders who have got to report something "good" to the upper echelons. I saw this way too often in Vietnam and it made me very suspicious of anything the DoD has to say.

News organizations are based on numbers, SW, and not the statistical kind contained in releases like this one. Bombs blowing up, fires burning, you know, the gawk factor, that's what sells.

Be well

how many foreign fighters were estimated to be in iraq in 2005? 2004? for that matter, how many in 2003?

the truth is "if it bleeds it leads" old press saying still holds true.

Reply By: kingbeePosted: Thursday, April 27, 2006how many foreign fighters were estimated to be in iraq in 2005? 2004? for that matter, how many in 2003?

how tall were they? how many have blue eyes? how many are left handed?

all my questions are as relevant as yours are.

all my questions are as relevant as yours are.

they sure are if anyone is speculating as to the number of blue-eyed, tall, lefthanded foreign fighters in iraq.

otherwise, they're more like the irright answer to 'what's grey and has a trunk?'.

they sure are if anyone is speculating as to the number of blue-eyed, tall, lefthanded foreign fighters in iraq. otherwise, they're more like the irright answer to 'what's grey and has a trunk?'.

I think you missed the intent of this article.  I just picked up on a short term trend.  However, the article is not about trends, but of good news.  If the answer to your interrogative is 0, does that change these numbers?  No.

Reply By: Dr. GuyPosted: Friday, April 28, 2006they sure are if anyone is speculating as to the number of blue-eyed, tall, left handed foreign fighters in Iraq. otherwise, they're more like the right answer to 'what's grey and has a trunk?'.I think you missed the intent of this article. I just picked up on a short term trend. However, the article is not about trends, but of good news. If the answer to your interrogative is 0, does that change these numbers? No.

kingbee DID NOT miss the intent of article, he is just a contrary to any good news about the war. A perfect example of a closed minded liberal.

If the answer to your interrogative is 0, does that change these numbers? No.

in the original article, shadowwar asked:

Wonder why you don’t hear that we captured these Foreign Nationals

if the answer to my question was '0', his would be a much more disturbing question as it would be if there was evidence of only 500 foreign fighters a year engaging our troops--but for different reasons, of course.

if everyone agrees there have been more than several thousands at any given time, an average of 35 captures per month for the past couple years is not terribly newsworthy cuz that would seem to be expected no?

finally, if there have been widespread assertions the insurgency is rife with foreign fighters and/or there are 10s of thousands of em in iraq, or they make up the majority of the insurgency, then the msm is also wrong for not having focused on the basis for making such ridiculous claims...not to mention asking why so many continue to roam free.

he is just a contrary to any good news about the war. A perfect example of a closed minded liberal.

hardly. on the other hand, you just revealed yourself to be a perfect example of someone who presumes more than he should about the intents of others.

The New York Times reported "The State Department report estimated that foreign fighters account for only 4 to 10 percent of the 20,000 or more insurgent fighters in Iraq." though it pains me to use them as a source. I will until I find other, what I like to think of as more reliable source.

10% of 20,000  hmmm 2000? Each month we kill about 30 on average? Since 2003. Thats like 1020 so far? or 5% of the total. Not good, but better than nothing. I am looking for the State Department Report the allude too. More to follow when I have better numbers.

finally, if there have been widespread assertions the insurgency is rife with foreign fighters and/or there are 10s of thousands of em in iraq, or they make up the majority of the insurgency, then the msm is also wrong for not having focused on the basis for making such ridiculous claims...not to mention asking why so many continue to roam free.

He assumed nothing.  You did.  I extrapolated, and he referred me to another article.  You can get your answer by following the comments.  Still, your question is non sequitar to the point of this article.

I miss typed when I said 5%, I meant 50%. Darn fingers..

the article is not about trends, but of good news.

Maybe the good news had been classified for so long until Bush decided to declassify it to save his rump. But the intent of the article is actually to inform us that we cannot trust MSM since--even FOX[?]--it is controlled by girly liberals.

Maybe the good news had been classified for so long until Bush decided to declassify it to save his rump. But the intent of the article is actually to inform us that we cannot trust MSM since--even FOX[?]--it is controlled by girly liberals.

Touche'!

Things are moving along nicely then. Cool.
I'll book my Vacation to Iran today.

America uber Alles crowd. hmmmm.

I prefer the analagy of this county as being a giant toilet bowl. And the all it's collective citizens representing a giant hand reaching up to pull the handle.