Brighten the Corners

White House Rejects Medical Study’s 650,000 Iraq Toll
The Bush administration is dismissing a new medical study that says as many as 650,000 Iraqis have died as a result of the US-led invasion. The study was conducted by American and Iraqi researchers and published in the British medical journal The Lancet. President Bush was asked about the findings Wednesday at the White House.

• President Bush: "No, I don't consider it a credible report. Neither does General Casey and neither do Iraqi officials. I do -- I do know that a lot of innocent people have died, and that troubles me. And it grieves me."

Bush: Iraqis Willing to “Tolerate” Violence
Bush went on to say he stands by the figure of 30,000 dead Iraqis that he cited last year. The President also said Iraqis are willing to “tolerate” the country’s ongoing violence because they yearn to be free.

Top US General Can’t Cite Source of Iraq Death Toll Estimate
At the Pentagon, General George Casey, the top US military leader in Iraq, was also asked about the Lancet study.

• Gen. George Casey: "I have not seen the study. That 650,000 number seems way, way beyond any number that I have seen. I've not seen a number higher than 50,000. And so I don't give that much credibility at all."

• Reporter: "What's the 50,000 number? Where did you see that from?”

• Gen. Casey: "I don't remember, but I've seen it over time."

• Reporter: "Is that the U.S. military estimate?"

• Gen. Casey: "I don't remember where I saw that. It's either from the Iraqi government or from us, but I don't remember precisely."

Meanwhile, one of the nation’s leading pollsters is backing the study’s findings. In an interview with CNN, John Zogby of Zogby International said he believes the researchers’ methodology is sound and their conclusions accurate.

Courtesy of Democracy Now!