CLAIM: '400,000 DEAD' IN INDONESIA ALONE

drudge ^

[Jackknife]

Tragic.

[Bon mots]

Were these Islands primarily Muslim or Christian? Is this the part of Indonesia where they have been burning churches?

[Decombobulator]

Just because they're not there doesn't mean they're dead.

[Rutles4Ever]

This number is also not accounting for the outbreak of disease....

Bangladesh lost a similar number some years ago in flooding of their own...

Do not be surprised, when all is said and done (disease toll included), the number exceeds one million dead...

This is an historic tragedy.

[shadowman99]

Wars have started over less.

[Decombobulator]

He said the estimate was based on air surveillance by Indonesian authorities who found no signs of life in places like Meulaboh, Pulau Simeulue and Tapak Tuan while several islands off the west coast of Sumatera had "disappeared".

Just because they're not there doesn't mean they're dead.

[HighFlier]

We can do nothing but send money and pray.

Exactly the reaction someone who ups the number to 400,000 might want.

It's good to be compassionate, but beware of being scammed. There is a good chance a lot of that is going to be going on in the next few weeks.

[Spok]

If this is true, it's a catastrophe of biblical proportion, but we should remember that many countries are competing for relief dollars. It wouldn't be the first time suffering has been exploited by the unscrupulous.

[Porterville]

So what will the final tally be? 600,000 ? 800,000? 1,000,000

[nhoward14]

They are just now getting to the areas closest to the epicenter. So far it appears to be utter destruction to the point where they just declare the entire population dead.

[chemical_boy]

I hope this is one of those Drudge Headlines that turns out to be total BS

[Peace Is Coming]

bttt

[Ciexyz]

The photo on Drudge is heartbreaking. Rescue workers carrying a bundle attached to sticks -- looks like the wrapped-up body of a small child.

[roaddog727]

Day-am!

[neutrino]

That's roughly equal to one month's population increase for Indonesia. Maybe five weeks, at most.

And, given the aid scam being worked, you can bet the numbers are being inflated.

Guys...please...get a grip.

[nhoward14]

Have you seen the satellite photos of some of these areas? Many places have nothing left but mud and rubble.

[Heatseeker]

Sumatra, as the Indonesian island closest to the Muslim heartland, was generally considered the most religiously conservative, and the Aceh separatist rebellion (Aceh Merdeka or GAM) is fundamentalist Muslim.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Me, I'm not too bummed about half a million less muslims in the world. Call me cold and callous but it is the truth."

These are just ordinary people living their lives; they are not terrorists. My sister was recently in Africa and lived among Muslims in Guinea; they were very friendly, gracious people. I have no reason to think otherwise about those people who were killed, but I have reason to think otherwise about you.

[Rutles4Ever]

Yes, but they would risk creating a climate of futility at the same time. Really, does any one person think that their $100 or $1000 will make a dent in what's needed if it's 400 or 500 thousand dead? Collectively, the world can provide, but individually, it's harder to entice people to contribute unless they think it's going to make an impact. It's almost impossible to function when you consider the magnitude of the loss of life.

So, I guess I'm saying I don't think that it's in their interest to inflate the numbers or risk creating a sense of futility.