Despite troop buildup, security remains elusive

[RamboLiberal]

Source: LA Times

In the Oubaidy neighborhood in the eastern part of this city, American soldiers hired a local Iraqi man to clean the Porta-Potties at their combat outpost. Before the man could start, members of the local Shiite militia threatened to kill him.

Today, the Porta-Potties are roped off, and the U.S. soldiers, who could not promise to protect their sewage man, are forced to burn their waste.

As part of the Bush administration's troop "surge" strategy, the U.S. unit here had moved into an abandoned potato chip factory hoping to push out the militia, protect existing jobs and provide stability for economic growth. Instead, militia members stymied development projects, cut off the water supply and brutally executed two young Iraqi women seen talking to U.S. soldiers, sending a powerful message about who really controls Oubaidy's streets.

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But as the experience of the troops in Oubaidy indicates, U.S. forces so far have been unable to establish security, even for themselves. Iraqis continue to flee their homes, leaving mixed areas and seeking safety in religiously segregated neighborhoods. Some 32,000 families fled in June, alone, according to the figures compiled by the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations and the Iraqi government that are due to be released next week.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-progress11jul11,0,6596480.story?coll=la-home-center

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