My first reaction was simply to rate this story as "silly." But that does not begin to get to the heart of what is wrong with this article. No amount of mathematical formula- bending will change the fact that this is the same old, same old narrative: the media lost in Vietnam, the media is guilty. it's a fool's argument. The fairly undeniable estimate of Iraqi deaths by US and allied actions over the past decade, from degradation and destruction of infrastructure to war making and aerial bombing, is well over a million. Were our country to suffer that level of destruction we would probably all be "insurgents." General Petraeus is suggesting a minimum of 10 years' presence. For what? Oil? A huge base in Baghdad? This aricle is itself a good example of smoke and mirrors—making a rational-seeming argument, complete with quantification; only it is based on a fictional premise: that we can actually subdue the opposition to our occupation by controlling US public opinion. Chillingly, the author starts right out talking about "developing a media corps." Perhaps the author needs to revisit the theories of democracy and re-read the 1st amendment. Finally, it is the administration itself, led by GWB, who is blaming everything on Al Queda.