Progress in Iraq’s Anbar “breathtaking”: US general

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2007/April/focusoniraq_April196.xml§ion=focusoniraq

WASHINGTON - The US commander of multinational forces in Iraq, General David Petraeus, said Wednesday that efforts to quell unrest in the western Sunni province of Anbar have made almost “breathtaking” progress.

Speaking to reporters about the new US strategy to curb sectarian violence in Iraq launched two months ago, based on a US troop increase, Petraeus said: “We are ahead, I think, with respect ... to the reduction of sectarian murders in Baghdad.

“Progress in Anbar is almost something that’s breathtaking,” he added.

The general illustrated his positive evaluation by citing the killing Friday of an Al Qaeda kingpin, identified by the US command as the “security emir” for the east of Anbar province.

[flyingfysh]

1. "breathtaking" as in "drowning"?

Drowning is certainly a breathtaking experience.

[Postman]

2. I guess when you level cities it is kind of breathtaking...

How's Baghdad working out for you?

[magellan]

3. Breathtaking progress!

Good! Then the troops should be coming home soon, right?

RIGHT?

[katty]

4. breathtaking as in: expired, no pulse

[Cooley Hurd]

5. Mick Ware, on CNN this am, said the reason sectarian violence has waned...

...in Anbar is because the MNF troops made a deal w/ the Sunni insurgents to turn against al Qaeda fighters, making this no longer Sunni v Shia (sectarian violence), but Sunni v Sunni.:crazy:

[Javaman]

6. Funny how they are wanting to "bring peace" to Anbar

considering a huge oil reserve was just found there. effectively doubling the Iraqi oil capacity.

Yeah, breathtaking. I think WWI vets spoke the same words when talking about carpet bombing.