tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post3017175559798804649..comments2023-11-02T07:54:22.317+00:00Comments on Unenlightened Commentary.: So Everyone's Not Dead Then?Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02263275229285861236noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-89849108633074351212008-01-16T09:18:00.000+00:002008-01-16T09:18:00.000+00:00Yeah, the first Lancet report was, when you got aw...Yeah, the first Lancet report was, when you got away from the headline figure, actually a range of values that encompassed pretty much every plausible value.Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02263275229285861236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-17270098669818019792008-01-15T22:19:00.000+00:002008-01-15T22:19:00.000+00:00As I said at the time, there was absolutely no rea...As <A HREF="http://www.squandertwo.net/blog/2005/03/lies-damn-lies-and-ach-you-know.htm" REL="nofollow">I said at the time</A>, there was absolutely no reason to doubt <I>The Lancet</I>'s finding that there had been at least 8000 civilian deaths.Squander Twohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06968628314723491478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-26298772725478541922008-01-11T18:26:00.000+00:002008-01-11T18:26:00.000+00:00But there was a case for assessments anyway, insof...But there was a case for assessments anyway, insofar as useful assessments were possible. (Quite a caveat that, given the intrinsic difficulty of the task.) You learned nothing of the least value from that load of drivel; it should have gone in the same bin in which you file estimates from a bloke in the pub.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-88715389415405408782008-01-11T04:37:00.000+00:002008-01-11T04:37:00.000+00:00Interesting that the Lancet is into death tolls.Interesting that the Lancet is into death tolls.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-55943292569492090082008-01-11T01:01:00.000+00:002008-01-11T01:01:00.000+00:00Dearieme, my reaction to the Lancet result was wha...Dearieme, my reaction to the Lancet result was what I think ought to be the response to any survey that produces startling results, it shouldn't be taken as gospel but it does make the case for further assessments of the result to be carried out.Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02263275229285861236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-74010835065854644742008-01-10T20:15:00.000+00:002008-01-10T20:15:00.000+00:00"As I said at the time seeing as there was no alte..."As I said at the time seeing as there was no alternative study to refer to the John Hopkins report could not easily be dismissed". I disagree: when there is only one attempt to estimate a number and the result seems deeply implausible to you, your duty is to dismiss it and admit to ignorance. The moral hazard of entertaining the implausible answer is just too high.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-20890019893900171512008-01-10T16:31:00.000+00:002008-01-10T16:31:00.000+00:00I think you're right about that, the earlier repor...I think you're right about that, the earlier report set 650000 dead as the benchmark so no matter how many other studies contradict it from now on they will be met with incredulity.Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02263275229285861236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-77694695464519445682008-01-10T16:16:00.000+00:002008-01-10T16:16:00.000+00:00Hi RossI didn't know you had a blog. I enjoy your ...Hi Ross<BR/><BR/>I didn't know you had a blog. I enjoy your comments at ATW. <BR/><BR/>There was so much media around that Lancet report. I doubt any of those who fully believed those huge numbers will reconsider now. It was awful the way that was taken as the difinitive snapshot of Iraq. There is and was too much at stake in propaganda terms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com