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Shifting Momentum
By John
From the....New York Times?
BAGHDAD, April 8 — Nearly two months into the new security push in Baghdad, there has been some success in reducing the number of death squad victims found crumpled in the streets each day. And while the overall death rates for all of Iraq have not dropped significantly, largely because of devastating suicide bombings, a few parts of the capital have become calmer as some death squads have decided to lie low.
But!
But there is little sign that the Baghdad push is accomplishing its main purpose: to create an island of stability in which Sunni Arabs, Shiite Arabs and Kurds can try to figure out how to run the country together.
And caveat!
For American troops, Baghdad has become a deadlier battleground as they have poured into the capital to confront Sunni and Shiite militias on their home streets. The rate of American deaths in the city over the first seven weeks of the security plan has nearly doubled from the previous period, though it has stayed roughly the same over all, decreasing in other parts of the country as troops have focused on the capital.
And stunning revelations!
Many of the new troops are joining long-term garrisons along with Iraqi forces in particularly violent neighborhoods of Baghdad, keeping up frequent patrols and trying to strengthen relations with Iraqis by meeting with local leaders and residents.That has put the Americans in the middle of sectarian battlegrounds, and their death rate in the city has nearly doubled. The number of Americans killed in combat or other violence rose to 53 in Baghdad in the first seven weeks of the push, from Feb. 14 to April 2. That is up from 29 in the seven weeks before then.
You mean that placing US troops directly into harm's way actually increases casualties?? See, this is why I still subscribe to the local newspaper, someone has got to connect these dots for me.
Still, sigh. I suppose this is the best we'll get out of the NYT's. A somewhat optimistic lede followed by three pages of tedious explanation as to why it's no reason to get your hopes up.
Update - Jules Crittenden quips: "The New York Times is forced to acknowledge progress in the surge. Grudgingly."
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I flipped on CNN the other night and watched them harp at least 4 or 5 times that US casualties were increasing. Ohh they did make a mention that some reports disputed but the military were claiming Iraqi Civilian deaths down by 27%.
Also got a treat of Ware up there dam near nutting on himself over the fact that in Baghdad earlier in a ambush 4IA were killed and 16US troops wounded with ONLY 3resistance forces lost.
Freekin sad.... I don't ever remember CNN harping about casualties going down when they were... and sinse the goal of the surge was to get the Civilian casualties down if you were being fair the fact Iraqi Civilian casualties were down 27% would be the lead being harped and the increase in US soldiers deaths would be seen for what it is a effect of increased tempo raides action.