First official word on the casualties in Iraq that I’ve seen. We’ve had a lot of estimates but finally the government is giving us a number and it’s not good.

Nearly simultaneous car bombs struck two markets in predominantly Shiite areas of Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 16 people. Iraq’s health minister said about 150,000 have been killed by insurgents since the war started, giving the government’s first overall casualty estimate.

Emphasis mine. Now this is important for one big reason: that’s just from the insurgents. It’s ignoring, for example, how many civilians died at the hands of American soldiers. I would say the total deaths would be considerably over 200,000 if not creeping up toward 300,000.

Cross your fingers, this might get a new direction finally.