655,000 Iraqis have died since 2003

An estimated 655,000 Iraqis have died since 2003 who might still be alive but for the US-led invasion, according to a survey by a US university.

The estimated death toll is equal to about 2.5% of Iraq's population, and averages out at more than 500 additional deaths a day since the start of the invasion.

Of the 629 deaths they recorded among these families, 13% took place in the 14 months before the invasion and 87% in the 40 months afterwards.

Such a trend repeated nationwide would indicate a rise in annual death rates from 5.5 per 1,000 to 13.3 per 1,000.

A little different to the figures released by the media eh? Scandalous! I don't sanction this type of operation, yet my government sees fit to join in. Surely something like this should have been decided by referendum? But then again, we're a capitalist society, not a democratic one!