Deadly Year in Iraq Has Grown Worse as Military Struggles to Adjust Tactics

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBHQ2NAD3E.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - By key measures of the level of insurgent violence against American forces in Iraq - numbers of dead, wounded and insurgent attacks - the situation has grown worse since summer.

While those numbers don't tell the full story of the conflict in Iraq, they suggest insurgents are growing more proficient, even as the size of the U.S. force increases and U.S. commanders succeed in soliciting more help from ordinary Iraqis.

For example:

- The U.S. military suffered at least 348 deaths in Iraq over the final four months of the year, more than in any other similar period since the invasion in March 2003.

-The number of wounded surpassed 10,000, with more than a quarter injured in the last four months as direct combat, roadside bombs and suicide attacks escalated. When President Bush declared May 1, 2003, that major combat operations were over, the number wounded stood at just 542.

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[TrustingDog]

1. I think he said: 'fishin' accomplished'. y'all know how funny he talks.nt

[gratuitous]

2. "Insurgents are growing more proficient"

What was their first clue? In the immediate aftermath of the bombing of the mess tent, the local news had some knuckleheaded uniform spout off that it must have been a "lucky" shot that caused so much death and destruction. Implicit in much of our military's bravado is a refusal to recognize that their enemy has anything approaching intelligence, skill, daring, bravery, pluck or other attributes that we fancy our military has in amounts untouchable by any other fighting force on the planet.

This attitude begins at the top and runs, as far as I can tell, right through the ranks. Now, there's nothing wrong with pumping up one's own confidence, but to ignore or to be willfully blind to your enemy's abilities is a sure recipe for more flag-draped coffins. You see it all the time in sports: Some powerhouse team gets caught looking past their immediate opponent in anticipation of next week's titanic struggle, and they fall on their collective face (e.g. Miami over New England a couple of weeks ago).

As long as our military is unwilling to acknowledge that the insurgents they're fighting against are a canny, savvy bunch, capable of heroic acts and legendary deeds (just like they believe for themselves), we'll see further deterioration of the situation. All the while, the corrupt minions of the Bush administration will be selling the idea that everything's just peachy keen and as fine as frog hair in Iraq.

Don't believe it? Tune in to Faux.

[amber dog democrat]

3. Maybe we have become more incompetant

This war offers no good options - only greater rebellion and sabotage the longer we stay. As a colonial power, I suppose we stack up better than England did during its occupation of Afghanistan in the 1830s.... but there is no reason for Iraqis to help us legitimize this oil occupation.

Wonder what the Chimp will do after the sham election happens - and the rebellion continues un abated. I believe we have already lost this war over a year ago.