Slain governor of Baghdad had close ties to Americans

[leftchick]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002141003_iraq05.html

~snip~

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Insurgents yesterday assassinated the governor of Baghdad, who was known for cooperating closely with American troops and was the most senior official killed in Iraq since political authority over the country was transferred to an interim government last summer.

Insurgents also killed five U.S. troops in three separate attacks, eight Iraqi commandos and two others in a suicide bombing at a commando base in Baghdad, and three Iraqi troops in a roadside bombing northeast of the capital.

The attacks made it the deadliest day for the U.S. military in Iraq since a suicide bombing at a mess tent in Mosul on Dec. 21 killed 22 people, including 14 U.S. soldiers and three American contractors.

"The war's worse, the insurgency's worse," said a senior U.S. Embassy official in Baghdad, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to talk candidly. "... This is not going to be a short fight. Nobody should think it is."

The assessment reflected a new willingness among senior Iraqi and American officials to acknowledge that large tracts of the country remain beyond the control of their combined forces. More than three months ago, interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi asserted during a visit to Washington that 15 of Iraq's 18 provinces were stable and largely peaceful. Now, he routinely refers to the situation here as "our catastrophe."

[cornermouse]

1. Here's an idea.

Let's leave. We can't afford the financial or the human lives cost. This always was a foolish and unnecessary war. Insisting on remaining only compounds the basic stupidity that put us there.

[leftchick]

2. I second that idea!

Though it won't happen until we have squandered many more Billions of dollars, Killed many more thousands of people, Instituted a draft and the ameriKans wake the fuck up!

[LiberalVoice]

3. When a sunni cleric can offer up 100,000 troops to aid in the election.

(Which was turned down because he was obviously doing it in hopes of special favors should the elections actually come through.) And we only have 150k troops their you know that problems are about to get much worse.

My only hope is that the do cancel the elections indefinitly. The loss of innocent lives will be tremendous if they have it as scheduled.

[dutchdoctor]

4. That's an interesting story

Did a Sunni cleric actually offer 100,000 troops? And they turned him down? It would seem like the perfect exit strategy..
Do you have a link?

[LiberalVoice]

5. No sorry...

I read it about three weeks ago on DU. He said he could offer 100k of his men to help protect the polling stations and its employees.

[struggle4progress]

6. kick