100,000 Iraqi dead--THE LANCET Report

The new study released in the U.K. this morning by the British medical journal of reference, THE LANCET, is devastating. Here's how The Independent summarized the report's findings:

"The first scientific study of the human cost of the Iraq war suggests that at least 100,000 Iraqis have lost their lives since their country was invaded in March 2003.

"More than half of those who died were women and children killed in air strikes, researchers say. Previous estimates have put the Iraqi death toll at around 10,000 - ten times the 1,000 members of the British, American and multi-national forces who have died so far. But the study, published in The Lancet, suggested that Iraqi casualties could be as much as 100 times the coalition losses. It was also savagely critical of the failure by coalition forces to count Iraqi casualties."

This report underscores both the iniquity of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and the moral imperative to continue vigorous agitation against the U.S. occupation even if (one might well say especially if) Kerry replaces Bush. You may read the full report in THE LANCET, and the commentary accompanying it, by clicking here.