But according to US government statistics, Afghanistan's dismal rate of infant mortality, a basic indicator of a country's development, has shown no sign of improvement.

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By comparison, the US created 783, 000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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As key evidence supporting this trend piece, the reporter cited two statistics: According to Chilmark Research, 22% of US doctors in the U.S. were using iPads by the end of 2010.

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According to some statistics, 500, 000 to 5 million elders are abused, exploited or neglected each year in the US. These numbers vary widely since elder abuse is sometimes hard to fine and frequently is hidden.

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