Falluja Arithmetic Lesson

Falluja Arithmetic Lesson
by Prof. Greg Palast

Monday's New York Times, page 1:

"American commanders said 38 service members had been killed and 275 wounded in the
Falluja assault."

Monday's New York Times, page 11:

"The American military hospital here reported that it had treated 419 American soldiers
since the siege of Falluja began."

Questions for the class:

1. If 275 soldiers were wounded in Falluja and 419 are treated for wounds, how many were
shot on the plane ride to Germany?

2. We're told only 275 soldiers were wounded but 419 treated for wounds; and we're told
that 38 soldiers died. So how many will be buried?

3. How long have these Times reporters been embedded with with military? Bonus question:
When will they get out of bed with the military?

Monday's New York Times, page 1:

"The commanders estimated that 1,200 to 1,600 insurgents had been killed."

Monday's New York Times, page 11:

"Nowhere to be found: the remains of the insurgents that the tanks had been sent in to

Full NYT quote:
"They started pouring in late last week, at more than double the usual daily rate. By Sunday afternoon, the American military hospital here reported that it had treated 419 American soldiers since the siege of Falluja began on Nov. 8.

Most of the new patients were involved in the Falluja operation, hospital officials said. Just over half of those admitted were wounded in combat."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/15/international/europe/15germany.html

Not everyone sent to the hospital was involved with Fallujah.

Maybe some of the wounded were already in the hospital beginning their treatment and completed their treatment after the assault began.

Then again, maybe Palast is on to something. He usually is.