Originally posted by Sandman333:
Time for a little perspective:

Every male over the age of 17 is guaranteed to have at least one AK-47, and likely many more than one. Now, do the math.



Well ... if we are to assume the above is true, that would make Iraq an exceptionally dangerous place to be. Here's that math based on U.S. Census Bureau data from the year 2000.

    Males 15-19: 1,355,000
    Males 20-24: 1,161,000
    Males 25-29: 995,000
    Males 30-34: 839,000
    TOTAL: 4,350,000


However, looking at the data from the CIA, according to a number of reports reports from November 2003 through June 2004, here's the estimated size and scope of the insurgency.

    Sunni Triangle: 5,000 core fighters + 20-50K active supporters
    Mahdi Army: 3-10k
    Fallujah: 2000
    Samarra: 2000
    Baquba: 1000
    Baghdad: 1000 (but probably much larger since the June report)
    Ramadi: unspecified (but probably less than Baghdad)
    al-Qaim: unspecified (but probably less than Baghdad)
    Mosul: unspecified (but probably less than Baghdad)
    Kirkuk: unspecified (but probably less than Baghdad)


Take the worst case scenario above; allow 2000 for each of Ramadi, al-Qaim, Mosul and Kirkuk; add them all up and then double for good measure - the total is 150,000 - or approximately 3.5% of the male population aged 15-34.

Time for a little perspective indeed.