Par contre, eux, nos chefs bien-aimés, ils savent calculer, et comment…

Face à ces fantasmagories méthodologiques de l’équipe de la John Hopkins University, se tiennent les puissances rationnelles, raisonnables, mesurées et morales qui nous gouvernent. Donnons-leur enfin la parole, nous qui tremblons de fièvre indignée de savoir la vérité sur cette question des pertes en Irak.

Dans la même interview citée dans la nouvelle précédente, Amy Goodman introduit la contradiction sous la forme de deux extraits de conférences de presse où deux des puissances en question répondent en détails, le verbe droit, le chiffre sûr, le regard clair, à l’évaluation de John Hopkins University. Nous entendons successivement GW Bush, qui cite le général Casey pour sa propre estimation, et le général Casey qui cite “j’ai oublié qui” dans sa propre estimation qui sert de référence à son président citant sa propre estimation.

AMY GOODMAN: Les Roberts, this was President Bush when he was asked about the study Tuesday, during his morning news conference. He dismissed the study, as you know, and said Iraqis are willing to tolerate the level of violence in Iraq. The question came from CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux.

«SUZANNE MALVEAUX: A group of American and Iraqi health officials today released a report saying that 655,000 Iraqis have died since the Iraq war. That figure is 20 times the figure that you cited in December, at 30,000. Do you care to amend or update your figure, and do you consider this a credible report?

»PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: No, I don't consider it a credible report. Neither does General Casey, and neither do Iraqi officials. I do know that a lot of innocent people have died, and that troubles me and it grieves me. And I applaud the Iraqis for their courage in the face of violence. I am amazed that this is a society which so wants to be free that they're willing to -—you know, that there's a level of violence that they tolerate. And it's now time for the Iraqi government to work hard to bring security in neighborhoods, so people can feel, you know, at peace.

»No question, it's violent. But this report is one — they put it out before. It was pretty well — the methodology is pretty well discredited. But I — you know, I talk to people like General Casey and, of course, the Iraqi government put out a statement talking about the report.

»SUZANNE MALVEAUX: The 30,000, Mr. President? Do you stand by your figure — 30,000?

»PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: You know, I stand by the figure. A lot of innocent people have lost their life — 600,000, or whatever they guessed at, is just — it's not credible. Thank you.»

AMY GOODMAN: And again, this was General George Casey, the top U.S. military leader in Iraq, who 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. GEORGE CASEY: I don't remember, but I’ve seen it over time.

»REPORTER: Is it a U.S. military estimate?

»GEN. GEORGE 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.»

Mis en ligne le 13 octobre 2006 à 09H06