Iraqi Civil War kills 85,000+

POLITICS - According to new figures released by Iraq's government, over 85,000 civilians have been killed in sectarian violence between 2004 and 2008. The Civil War is between Sunni and Shiite Muslims fighting for political/religious dominance, often using suicidal gunmen, suicide bombers and explosive devices. (Thanks to the internet its really easy to find instructions for making homemade explosives. Its important to note these extremists aren't targeting Americans, they're attacking each other. Under Saddam Hussein's secular government he brutally squashed sectarian violence by threatening their religious leaders. Under American control old sectarian hatreds have come to the fore unchallenged.)

The exact numbers are:
85,694 civilians dead
147,195 civilians wounded

What remains unknown is the number of civilians killed during the start of the Iraq War in 2003. According to the Associated Press (which has been keeping track) 87,215 civilians have died since the start of the Iraq War (by February 2009), but this figure is considered to be inaccurate because some deaths are not recorded by the media.

There is also an untold number of missing people, especially in a country where kidnappings are common.

The death toll includes 1,279 children and 2,334 women. They also tracked 263 university professors, 21 judges, 95 lawyers and 269 journalists who were killed. 2006 was the deadliest year: 32,622 dead civilians. The 2nd deadliest year was 2007: 19,155 dead civilians.

According to the Pentagon in the United States 4,349 American troops have been killed so far. Its believed American troops will be kept in Iraq for decades (at least a token force) in an effort to maintain their diplomatic efforts and ensure the security of American diplomats.