Math

I heard this morning on NPR that 100 people per day are dying in sectarian violence in Iraq, but the Decider says it's not civil war.

Let's run the numbers. 100 deaths per day equals 36,500 dead Iraqis a year. Gee - how many people have to die before we consider it a civil war?

Oh, but you say that people die violently in our Cities all the time. True. Let's do the math on that one: New York City has 8.2 million residents, approximately 1/3 the size of Iraq. So, the number of murders in Iraq would equate to 11,500 if they happened in New York City. So what? 1 out of 712? Big deal. Well, do you think people would notice if the murder rate in New York City went up by 2,100%? It might get my attention...

But, it's not civil war - maybe we just need to send Saint Rudy Giulliani over there to clean things up like he did in New York...