Counting is hard

Trying to keep track of the number of people suspected of having bird flu in Indonesia is difficult, but apparently not as difficult as keeping straight the number you are going to use in lying to the American people about the readiness of the Iraqi armed forces. Via billmon:

Today there are more than 80 Iraqi army battalions fighting the insurgency alongside our forces.

George W. Bush
Speech to National Endowment for Democracy
October 6, 2005

I'm encouraged by the increasing size and capability of the Iraqi security forces. Today they have more than 100 battalions operating throughout the country.

George W. Bush
Radio Address
October 1, 2005

Until a couple of weeks ago, [Gen. David] Petraeus was in charge of the U.S. effort to train and equip Iraqi forces. In perhaps the most detailed public account so far of the state of Iraq's forces he said 115 army combat and special police battalions were rated as being "in the fight."

United Press International
Analysis: Training Iraqi army a slow process
October 6, 2005

We have more than a hundred Iraqi army and special police battalions participating with us in conducting counterinsurgency operations.

Gen George Casey

Testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee
September 29, 2005

I think we have 86 Iraqi army battalions today that are operating with us.

Gen. Richard Myers
Testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee
September 29, 2005