Two can play the numbers game

Headline at The Huffington Post: Iraqi Civilian Deaths Hit Record High

That's not the only record being set these days, however, and not all the news is bad.

Army Ends Best Recruit Year Since 1997

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army is ending its best recruiting year since 1997 and expecting similar success in 2007, despite the weight of grim war news from Iraq, Army Secretary Francis Harvey said Thursday.

I bet you twenty bucks Harvey said nothing about "the weight of grim war news." What kind of army guy would talk like that? He probably said the first part, and AP threw in the atmospherics for free.

In an Associated Press interview, Harvey said the Army will enlist its 80,000th soldier on Friday, reaching its goal for the year with eight days to spare.

Of course, the Advocacy Press goes on to explain how this came about in spite of the "growing unpopularity of the Iraq war" - it was the new financial incentives, the increase in the eligibility pool (maximum age raise to 42), the acceptance of "a larger number of recruits whose score on a standardized aptitude test is at the lower end of the acceptable range" [the range didn't change], and some waivers for people with criminal records "that would otherwise disqualify them."

The Army says it does not grant waivers if there is a pattern of criminal misconduct or for convictions of drug trafficking or any sexually violent crimes.

The report states one fact twice, so be sure you don't miss it. I'm pretty sure they want you to know this:

That is a considerable turnaround from last year when the Army missed its target for the first time since 1999 and by the widest margin in more than two decades.... Last year the Army fell short of its goal by the widest margin since 1979.

Did I tell you about last year?

Anyway, all honor to the 80,000. Thank you for your service, and G-d bless you and your families.

Other Advocacy Press headlines
U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq Hit 2,692
Old Tactics Used to Stop Iraq Smuggling
Casey: Iraq War Becoming Internal Fight
Voters Struggle With Iraq Uncertainty

Iraqis Using Kidnap Victims As Bombers:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Insurgents are now using unwitting kidnap victims as suicide bombers - seizing them, booby-trapping their cars without their knowledge, then releasing them only to blow up the vehicles by remote control...

Lovely people. Give 'em a state (Iran may be up for grabs soon). We could call it Insurgestan and all the insurgents from all over the world could go there and kill each other in peace.