Icasualties.Com, Statistics, and Presentation Assignment - 5

Icasualties.Com, Statistics, and Presentation - Assignment Example Specifically, the reporting and graphic presentation of statistics on the website icasualties.com. The website documents casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003 and 2001 respectively. This analysis will focus only on one aspect of the website, the presentation of statistics relating to Operation Enduring Freedom/Afghanistan. On the left side of the site, a news feed constantly updates on news stories about Operation Enduring Freedom and casualties. The data is presented on the remaining portion of the page. The first set of statistics presented in chart and bar graph format is Coalition Military Fatalities by Year. Both formats clearly depict the rising coalition fatality rate and the fact that 2010 is on track to become the deadliest year in the operation. The accuracy of the figures is incontestable. In this day and age, the U.S. military (as well as those of other nations operating in Afghanistan) cannot hide casualties. As the graph on the following page illustrates (making allowances for this year only being halfway through) the graph presents a minor decline to 2003, and an increasing number of fatalities steadily since. The site then presents charted data of coalition fatalities by year and month. The charts indicate the ebb and flow of fighting throughout the year. Fighting increases when the weather improves and the poppy harvest ends in May. It declines again in the fall as the weather deteriorates. Additionally, a pie chart identifies the nationality of coalition fatalities by country and provides links to the name, unit, date of death and cause of death of each individual. The charting of fatalities for all countries is identical and facilitates comparisons between countries. Finally, a map provides data on all coalition fatalities by province and, again, links to the name, unit, date of death and cause of death of each individual. As with the data sorted by nationality the charting of fatalities for all provinces is identical and facilitates comparisons between provinces.  Ã‚