Iraq Insurgents Stepping Up Pace Of Attacks
A new Pentagon report indicates that the Iraqi insurgency is not exactly in it's "last throes."
The Pentagon reported yesterday that the frequency of insurgent attacks against troops and civilians is at its highest level since American commanders began tracking such figures two years ago, an ominous sign that, despite three years of combat, the US-led coalition forces haven't significantly weakened the Iraq insurgency...
The vast majority of the attacks -- from crude bombing attempts and shootings to more sophisticated, military-style assaults and suicide attacks -- were targeted at US-led coalition military forces, but the majority of deaths have been of civilians, who are far more vulnerable to insurgent tactics.
"Overall, average weekly attacks during this 'Government Transition' period were higher than any of the previous periods," the report states. "Reasons for the high level of attacks may include terrorist and insurgent attempts to exploit a perceived inability of the Iraqi government to constitute itself effectively, the rise of ethno sectarian attacks . . . and enemy efforts to derail the political process leading to a new government."
Listen to this attempt to polish a turd:
The Pentagon report, made public yesterday, contained some positive news, including an opinion poll that indicates most Iraqis don't like the insurgents' use of violence as a political tool.
This is considered to be progress?
The report says that the attacks have mainly killed civilians, and we celebrate when the civilians tell pollsters that a majority of them do not favor the tactic of violent attacks by the insurgents?
Despite military crackdowns on insurgents and the installation of the new Iraq government, the Pentagon wasn't optimistic about quelling the violence in the near future. Officials who briefed reporters on the Iraq assessment cautioned that violence against troops and Iraqi civilians probably won't slow until at least 2007 -- if the unity government exerts more of its own authority and, according to the report, "addresses key sectarian and political concerns" that fuel the bloodshed.
At least the Pentagon is being honest with the American political leadership about this.
Do not expect such honesty to be publicly articulated by the administration.
The Pentagon reported yesterday that the frequency of insurgent attacks against troops and civilians is at its highest level since American commanders began tracking such figures two years ago, an ominous sign that, despite three years of combat, the US-led coalition forces haven't significantly weakened the Iraq insurgency...
The vast majority of the attacks -- from crude bombing attempts and shootings to more sophisticated, military-style assaults and suicide attacks -- were targeted at US-led coalition military forces, but the majority of deaths have been of civilians, who are far more vulnerable to insurgent tactics.
"Overall, average weekly attacks during this 'Government Transition' period were higher than any of the previous periods," the report states. "Reasons for the high level of attacks may include terrorist and insurgent attempts to exploit a perceived inability of the Iraqi government to constitute itself effectively, the rise of ethno sectarian attacks . . . and enemy efforts to derail the political process leading to a new government."
Listen to this attempt to polish a turd:
The Pentagon report, made public yesterday, contained some positive news, including an opinion poll that indicates most Iraqis don't like the insurgents' use of violence as a political tool.
This is considered to be progress?
The report says that the attacks have mainly killed civilians, and we celebrate when the civilians tell pollsters that a majority of them do not favor the tactic of violent attacks by the insurgents?
Despite military crackdowns on insurgents and the installation of the new Iraq government, the Pentagon wasn't optimistic about quelling the violence in the near future. Officials who briefed reporters on the Iraq assessment cautioned that violence against troops and Iraqi civilians probably won't slow until at least 2007 -- if the unity government exerts more of its own authority and, according to the report, "addresses key sectarian and political concerns" that fuel the bloodshed.
At least the Pentagon is being honest with the American political leadership about this.
Do not expect such honesty to be publicly articulated by the administration.
posted by Effwit at 9:12 AM
5 Comments:
I'd expect some officials to backpedal on this report in the next few days. Something will be said with hopes of outweighing this finding. Like they might say we have found that Iraqis are increasingly grateful even when insurgency is high. This would mean this honest report would be meaningless.
If they say anything it will be more of the optimistic BS like "the Iraqis are better off now than under Saddam."
And the gooper apologist bloggers will eat it right up.
I think we've turned so many corners in Iraq at this point that we've been around the block about 15 times! And every time we turn another corner, there's another IED blowing up in our faces. At some point, it's time to pick a different block.
DrewL:
A day or two ago, President Bush had some retired Generals in to the White House--ostensibly to get their input on what we can do better in Iraq.
Upon emerging, (Ret.)Gen. Barry McCaffery--an odious shitpail if there ever was one--told the gathered press that we need to continue with the current strategy and we can expect to see some real progress in 12 to 18 months.
Yeah, isn't that the same advice we've been hearing for the last three years?
We'll meet back here in 10 years and they'll be saying the same bloody thing. Except by then it will apply to Iran or Syria or Venezuela, perhaps?
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