‘19,000 Civilians Died in Iraq within the Last Two Years’

According to recent figures announced by academics and peace activists broadcast on the Internet site www.iraqbodycount.net based on two media institutions, between 17,053 and 19,422 civilians have lost their lives since the beginning of the US occupation in Iraq.

Estimations for 2003 by think-tank organizations also envision that the number of Iraqi soldiers that died in the war is between 4,895 and 6,370. No official data announced has yet been announced regarding this total. According to the latest figures reported by the US Department of Defense, 1,512 US and 82 British soldiers have died in Iraq so far, while the number of soldiers from other countries who were sent to participate in the war in Iraq and died, is 85. It was declared that a total of 60,000 Iraqi civilians had died in the Gulf War (January 16th-February 28th 1991) initiated by the US following the occupation and annexation of Kuwait on 2 August 1990 by 80,000 Iraqi troops that claimed that this country was "Iraq’s 18th. Province". After releasing figures on the number of Iraqi civilian losses, the US Population Register Office Chair of the time was immediately dismissed from office.

On the other hand, the US army, who is having difficulty in finding soldiers prepared to fight in Iraq, has asked Congress to prolong the contracts of the soldiers currently in Iraq for two more years. Franklin L. Hagenbeck, Deputy Chief of Staff G1 US Army announced that they were experiencing difficulties in finding soldiers for the army and national guard forces and there was a risk that annual targets would not be reached despite supplementary resources being provided by Washington.