U.S., Iraqi governments often seem at odds over insurgency, elections

[leftchick]

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/345/world/U_S_Iraqi_governments_often_se:.shtml

~snip~

The mixed messages of late also swirl over the state of Iraq's unrelenting insurgency whether Iraq's forces are capable of crushing it and the wisdom of even holding the vote as scheduled in the midst of ongoing violence.

The Americans are clearly worried. The decision to bring in 12,000 more troops raises U.S. force levels to 150,000, more than the Bush Administration committed to the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.

''It had been our hope that we would be able to have a combination of increases that mainly were Iraqi troops increases,'' Gen. John Abizaid, the head of U.S. Central Command, said last week. ''And while the Iraqi troops are larger in number than they used to be, those forces have to be seasoned more, trained more. So, it's necessary to bring more American forces.''

Those fears appear to be well-founded. Attacks have surged in recent days with dozens of Iraqis and many Americans killed.

The insurgents seem able to strike nearly at will, even at difficult or well-armed targets. An Iraqi National Guard patrol was hit, as was a police station just yards from the heavily fortified Green Zone, home to the U.S. Embassy and headquarters of the U.S.-sponsored interim government in downtown Baghdad.

[bowens43]

1. The insurgents are Iraqis

of course the Iraqi 'army' is reluctant to fight them. The insurgency is made up of their brothers and cousins and friends.