Violence down 40 percent in Baghdad: US commander

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Violence in Baghdad has dropped by 40 percent since US and Iraqi troops entered select neighborhoods to clear out cells of Shiite and Sunni extremists, a US brigade commander said.

Colonel Robert Scurlock said 29 murders had been committed in the Amiriya area of western Baghdad the month leading up to the operation, making it one of the city's most violent.

But since his troops went in on August 13, only three murders have been reported, he said.

"In the month of July in Baghdad, there were 52 violent actions a day," he said. "And the two weeks since we began the operations, the attacks have dropped down 41 percent."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060825/pl_afp/usiraqmilitarybaghdad

[don954]

1. from an article i read, the population in Baghdad is down by 50-70%

so this isn't really surprising. Most people have either hauled ass or have been killed...

[Faux pas]

11. Thanks for this info. I was going to smart off and say that it's

probably b/c the population was down, but it would have been a guess. You wouldn't happen to have a link for the article? Thanks.

[don954]

15. been too long since i read it

that's the problem with being an info junkie, you read too much stuff and forget where you got it... ;)

[Faux pas]

17. LOL Yeah, I know, thanks anyway. n/t

[Barrett808]

20. I post everything I read to Gmail

So I can always produce links for articles I've read in the distant past.

Usually works like a charm. Of course, sometimes I'm too lazy to post, so there are occasional gaps...

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Why does this colonel guy's message sound bogus to me?

It would be great if this were really happening, but it probably isn't, and even if it were, it's probably temporary at best.

[Robbien]

9. Because it is

There are 50,000 US troops sitting in the middle of Baghdad with tanks in full view on the streets and bombers flying overhead. This colonel is bragging that insurgent violence is down by 40%. Heck, with a city full of armed troops and military firepower equipment, the question should be why is there any insurgent activity at all.

What a bust.

[babylonsister]

3. I SO don't believe this guy. nt

[rfranklin]

4. So this means that the occupation must go on and on and on....

Because the moment we leave the civil war will resume. Just like it was under Sadam.

[sabra]

5. Azzaman: Residents deny security getting better in Baghdad

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2006-08-24\kurd3.htm

Residents deny security getting better in Baghdad

The U.S.-led military operation has failed to improve conditions in Baghdad, residents said.

Contrary to U.S. reports that the operation has brought results, the residents confirmed that the heavy presence of U.S. and Iraqi troops on the streets of Baghdad has complicated rather than alleviated the capital’s problems.

American and Iraqi officials have reported a dramatic drop in violence in areas of Baghdad where U.S. and Iraqi troops have been carrying out house-to-house searches.

But the residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the operation was alienating many Iraqis due to the humiliation they receive at the so many checkpoints currently available in Baghdad.

...

“I do not think the operation has reduced the level of violence. On the contrary, what we see and hear points to a rise in violence not only in Baghdad but in many other provinces,” he said.

[0007]

6. Ah yes! I can see Rumsfeld and Cheney

tip toeing in the tulips, while junior plays a round of golf.

[watercolors]

7. more disinformation

guess we can expect this up until election. I go to www.iraq-today.com and get my info.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. when they added 50,000 to the streets of one area

there was a temporary peace. This reduction probably exists, and will last.

for about 3 days.

And then it will return to the "status quo ante"

[NickB79]

8. How long can you keep extra troops there?

This is all a big game of whack-a-mole; once we declare sectarian violence is under control and pull out troops, the shooting will start all over again.

[Robbien]

14. All those extra troops only reduced violence by 40%

The game isn't even whack-a-mole. The remaining 60% of the moles are still out there doing their business in plain sight even with all the troops being there.

[Rose Siding]

23. And when they leave, attacks will shoot right back up

-Just like in Ramadi and Fallujah.

[RethugAssKicker]

10. So What ?... When the cops are on the highway everyone

does 55 mph.

[bowens43]

13. Let's see violence is down troop numbers up.

Where's the surprise here?

This bozo misses the point. Of course attacks are down when the troop strength is increased.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. Bullshit up 60% from 1st Armored Division.

[bluedog]

18. bullcrap..read for yourselves....Iraqi Blog.........

http://dailywarnews.blogspot.com/

[Botany]

19. Please

Turkey is bombing the Kurds in northern Iraq
Iran is shelling the Kurds in n.e. Iraq
The areas from where we pulled the troops and
sent them to Baghdad have seen an uptick in violence
Basra has tried to succeed from the country
We are averaging 500 causalities a month (killed & wounded)
To the best I can figure out Iraq does not have 1 battalion
(600 -800 men) that can operate on it's own
The police and military are loaded with Shi ite "death squads"
We fucking bombed part of Baghdad from the air
A shi ite march was shot @ by Sunnis w/ >300 causalities
Iraq is now the country with the greatest # of refugees in the world
at least 30% of the Professional class has fled Iraq
2.5 Million doctors, engineers, teachers, and so on have filed to get pass ports
And we have "walled off" sections of Shi ites
The "Government" that serves in the Green Zone has little power out in the country

[RamblingRose]

21. The violence has just moved to different areas in Iraq

"As the US Battle for Baghdad has put an extra 3500 US troop in the capital in an attempt to make an long term impact in reducing guerrilla and militia violence there, the guerrillas have been moving their operations elsewhere."

juancole.com

[Bumblebee]

22. They are such idiots! They need to boast for the propaganda purposes

but EVERY TIME they do that, the "dead-enders," as they like to call them, get determined to prove them wrong. Just watch for a spike coming. They are utter morons!!

[HuffleClaw]

24. hahahahahaa

have they turned another corner yet? if they have, it'll make about seven laps thus far.

[TheCowsCameHome]

25. Great news. I think I'll take a stroll along the Airport road today

and visit the farmers market on the way back to the hotel.

[0007]

27. Bicycling on the Airport road is soooo peaceful these days!

[tabasco]

26. It's the new and improved Iraq-nam !

NOW with 40% less violence!!

[Roland99]

28. And as soon as the troops finish this next step in "Whack a Mole"???

Right back to the prior situation.

Wonder how things are going in Ramadi or Falluja or Basra or Tikrit or....

[lpbk2713]

29. Is there any of the native population left in Baghdad?

It stands to reason if you kill off, hospitalize or otherwise drive away the population then, yes, incidents of violence will decrease simply because of fewer people there.