Who is counting the bodies in Iraq?

"We don't do body counts." These were the words of Gen Tommy Franks, the man in charge of the US-led invasion of Iraq. But more than six-and-a-half years after the invasion, the body count has become a measure of success and failure in Iraq. In November, officials announced that violent deaths were at their lowest since 2003. That was an important example of progress in Iraq, according to the Iraqi government. Eight days after the announcement, five massive explosions went off almost simultaneously in different parts of Baghdad, killing and wounding hundreds. These well-co-ordinated, sophisticated attacks targeted symbols of the state - not only government buildings but also universities and state-run institutions. The explosions were similar in scale to devastating bomb attacks in August and in October. The country's commander-in-chief and Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is now under increased pressure to provide better security for the capital. After all, that's what he is credited with doing best.