U.S. Sees Lesson for Insurgents in an Iraq Battle(Pentagon INSISTS Body Count Accurate)

The New York Times ^ | December 2, 2003 | DEXTER FILKINS and IAN FISHER

[Becki]

Its far more likely that they simply didn't bring their dead to the morgue. I mean, are insurgents going to go to the local authorities and just turn over 50 bodies?

They probably dug a hole in the sand, like they did with many other mass graves, both before and during the war.

Becki

[Becki]

Assuming the number of dead is correct, and the dead civilians are actually civilians, it would require at least one man to carry away each body, which would make a minimum of 108 attackers.

That assumes only attackers would take part in that effort.

There is another thread with a report from one of the soldiers in the attack. He indicated that the entire street cleared out, with some of the men running down side streets.

If many in the town knew of the attack and didn't say or do anything, I think it is reasonable to assume they would help in the aftermath. And it could have been done under cover of darkness. Reporters didn't show up until the next day.

Becki

[Trampled by Lambs]

Assuming the number of dead is correct, and the dead civilians are actually civilians, it would require at least one man to carry away each body, which would make a minimum of 108 attackers. [more]

So are you suggesting that our guys succeeded only in taking out a woman and an old man and are then lying to us about how many they killed?