Top U.S. officers see mixed results from Iraq "surge"

[jmc247]

Source: The Washington Post

Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said the ongoing increase of nearly 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq has achieved "modest progress" but has also met with setbacks such as a rise in devastating suicide bombings and other problems that leave uncertain whether his counterinsurgency strategy ultimately will succeed.

Assessing the first two months of the U.S. and Iraqi plan to pacify the capital, senior American commanders -- including Petraeus; Adm. William Fallon, head of U.S. forces in the Middle East; Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of military operations in Iraq; and top regional commanders -- see mixed results. They said that while an increase in U.S. and Iraqi troops has improved security in Baghdad and Anbar province, attacks have risen sharply elsewhere. Critical now, they said in interviews this week, is for Iraqi leaders to forge the political compromises needed for long-term stability.

With the support of local tribes, Anbar recently has succeeded in recruiting about 11,500 police and 2,000 provincial sheriffs -- after years during which insurgent intimidation campaigns prevented such efforts.

"A year ago, brought all the police into this stadium and shot them," Fallon said on a visit Saturday to the Anbar town of Haditha, which now has a substantial local police force.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003677173_petraeus23.html

[merwin]

1. How does modest progress equal a rise in suicide bombings?

Unless they were shooting for a larger rise in suicide bombings.

[Kagemusha]

2. Shiite death squads are behaving more now so less shooting/ drill bit deaths

while spectacular bombings of Shiite civilians go unanswered due to the US' readiness to pounce on any movement by the forces of al-Sadr.

I have seen this movie before. It's called 2005, pre-Golden Dome bombing, and it took the "surge" and every last bit of effort since the start of this year to walk us back to that point (which was a bubbling volcano rather than a full eruption)...

[Roland99]

3. So, Petraeus says the Iraqis need to learn to live with suicide bombings? Well, that's ok IF

Bushco learn to live with the fact they belong before a court at The Hague!!

:mad:

[qwlauren35]

4. Did the surge happen even without Congressional Support?

Or have I been busy and missed it?

[Igel]

5. Part way.

Half to 2/3 of the "surge" troops are deployed.

[Homer Wells]

6. The whole damn thing is still

just a gargantuan game of Whack a Mole.

The Repugs just never ever learn.

:spank:

[yellowcanine]

7. In other words it's an effin failure and we haven't figured out the PR meme yet.