Jousting with the Lancet: Pajamas Media Interviews Professor Gilbert Burnham
The following is the email exchange I had with Dr Burnham:[Read from bottom to top]
Reply to Dr. Burnham: All I can say is that, in addition to besmirching the institution you work for, you also call into question the publication and “those who understand sampling methods”. I have discussed your sampling method with friends here in Arizona who have national reputations in statistical surveys , none of whom can be said to support the Iraq War, and without exception, they question the methodology used by you. Specifically, one stated that the Wall Street Journal article on your survey accurately portrayed the deficiencies in your sampling. I think you have joined Dan Rather as a legitimate victim of the wrath of the bloggers.
Response of Dr. Burnham: On the contrary. The authors have been gratified by the overwhelming support of the public health scientific community–in particular those who understand sampling methods, biostatistics public health in conflict, and international health issues. The Lancet, as the world’s leading medical journal, only publishes papers whose methods and results are heavily reviewed by the world’s leading authorities and found to be solid.
Original Email to Dr. Burnham: Whatever might be said about your survey, which resulted in the estimate of 655,000 “excess deaths” during the Iraq War, the bottom line is that you put the credibility of John Hopkins University on the line. Consequently, as your study is proven to be statistically unreliable–and most pollsters and statisticians agree it is–so does the credibility of John Hopkins suffer. One would think that a professor at such a prestigious institution would care about that. Apparently you didn’t and don’t. For that, you should be fired.
