(Reuters) Attacks in Iraq at record high: Pentagon

[Eugene]

Attacks in Iraq at record high: Pentagon

Reuters
Monday, December 18, 2006; 5:21 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Attacks in Iraq on U.S.-led forces, local security personnel
and civilians have surged 22 percent to record levels, the Pentagon said in its latest
quarterly report on Iraq published on Monday.

The report also noted a rise in civilian casualties and said this was directly linked
to the rise of sectarian death squads, which were helped by elements of Iraqi forces.

-snip-

"Attack levels -- both overall and in all specific measurable categories -- were the
highest on record during this reporting period," said the report, "Measuring Stability
and Security in Iraq," produced for the U.S. Congress.

The average number of attacks per week rose to 959 in the three months from August
12 to November 10, from 784 in the previous three months, according to figures provided
by the Pentagon to accompany the report.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/18/AR2006121800765.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Sounds like the Iraqis (doesn't matter which sect) got the memo

about the "Surge" before the Pentagon did.

[Fridays Child]

2. And Bush can't wait to send in 30,000 more targets.

:nuke:

[angstlessk]

3. This is just all the 'bad news'..what about how many schools have been painted?

ain't ya gonna tell me how many schools have been painted? Poor Laura, I see what she means. :sarcasm:

[Fridays Child]

4. Painted with the blood of teachers who were murdered before their...

...students' eyes? Or are those not the little red schoolhouses that Laura wants to hear about? :mad:

[saigon68]

14. A squad of marines just passed out a dozen pencils in the Green Zone

How's that for GOOD NEWS

LOL

Oh and Halliburton stock was up the other day.

[jazzjunkysue]

5. SUV magnet: "Support Our Targets" n/t.

[Roland99]

16. ooooooooo....that would be a good one

[superconnected]

6. Maybe they ought to tell the prezlnut.

[ckramer]

7. Pentagon Cites Success Of Anti-U.S. Forces in Iraq

The Pentagon said yesterday that violence in Iraq soared this fall to its highest level on record and acknowledged that anti-U.S. fighters have achieved a "strategic success" by unleashing a spiral of sectarian killings by Sunni and Shiite death squads that threatens Iraq's political institutions.

In its most pessimistic report yet on progress in Iraq, the Pentagon described a nation listing toward civil war, with violence at record highs of 959 attacks per week, declining public confidence in government and "little progress" toward political reconciliation.


"The violence has escalated at an unbelievably rapid pace," said Marine Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, director of strategic plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who briefed journalists on the report. "We have to get ahead of that violent cycle, break that continuous chain of sectarian violence. . . . That is the premier challenge facing us now."

The rapid spread of violence this year has thrown the government's future into jeopardy, Pentagon officials said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/18/AR2006121800791.html

========================

strategic success = US' humiliating defeat coming soon.

[babylonsister]

8. US' humiliating defeat coming soon=great reason to send in more troops. nt

[stillcool]

9. The "ISG" Report dimed them out...

otherwise we wouldn't be hearing about 'escalated violence' or anything else from the Pentagon. We need to stop the world.

[rodeodance]

10. hey , bush has his metric for SUCCESS in Iraq

[goforit]

11. These pathetic Generals. Their strategies suck.

[San Diego]

12. My heart goes out to the troops on the ground.

Obviously their 'leadership' has been compromised by career government servants that will do the bidding of whatever the Adminstration tells them.

The losers here are the guys on the ground, fighting the real fight.

I know several of these fine young men. They don't like being put into the positions they are in, but being good soldiers and marines, they do what they are told and don't question the orders of their superiors.

Regardless, I'll continue to send them care packages with skivvies, socks, chocolate, comic books, shave cream, razors, soap, deodorant and whatever my friends say they need over there.


I can't imagine what they're going through. For me, it's the (very) least I can do to make sure my friends and their mates are as comfortable as they can be.

[LynnTheDem]

13. "The violence has escalated at an unbelievably rapid pace,"

And bush says "Stay the course!"

The republic party; stupidest MFers ever.

[Cocoa]

15. the terrorists are getting desperate

as we head toward some turning point or other.

[maddezmom]

17. Iraqi Reconciliation Effort Is Failing, U.S. Says

By Tony Capaccio

Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) -- The Iraqi government's effort to reconcile differences between its warring factions ``has shown little progress,'' the U.S. Defense Department said today.

Sectarian violence has ``steadily increased'' despite a series of nationwide meetings among religious and tribal leaders initiated under Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the Pentagon said in its quarterly report. ``Concrete actions by the government to implement national reconciliation have not been successful.''

~snip~

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=avbgMHcW9TQQ