U.S. general says only one-fourth of Baghdad is in 'controlled state'

[Ilsa]

Source: CNN Pentagon Correspondent B. Starr

U.S. general says only one-fourth of Baghdad is in 'controlled state'
SNIP

Only one-quarter of Baghdad is currently under control, according to Army Brig. General Vincent Brooks, the deputy commanding general for Multi-National Division-Baghdad.

In a telephone interview with CNN, Brooks said just "one-quarter of Baghdad is in a controlled state." In defining "a controlled state" he said, "generally speaking it is when we are able to maintain physical influence over a specific area, preventing its use by the enemy."

Brooks emphasized that progress is being made in some areas. But he said establishing control has progressed slower than planned in some key neighborhoods -- in part due to a continuing shortage of qualified Iraqi police forces. --From CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr (Posted 2:16 p.m.)



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/06/04/monday/index.html

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Okay, now can the troops come home?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. In otherwords, three-fourths of Baghdad is NOT in a "controlled state."

But it's getting better. :eyes:

[MidwestTransplant]

2. And the Green Zone probably accounts for 1/5th of Baghdad.

[Ilsa]

4. Yeah, they've spent all of this time getting the Green Zone under control. nt

[grytpype]

5. I actually checked this on Wikipedia.

The Green Zone is about 4 square miles, Baghdad is about 78 square miles, so the GZ is about 5% of the total area of Baghdad.

Still, that's 1/5 of the 1/4 of Baghdad that is being denied to the "enemy" (i.e. the Iraqis).

[MidwestTransplant]

6. self delete

[Mz Pip]

3. "...progress is being made."

After 4 years 1/4 of Baghdad is under control. At that rate it will take another 12 to realy get it together. Whoopeee! Progress!

Did Lieberman visit the part that is under control? Was it still under control the next day?

Mz Pip
:dem:

[cliss]

7. "Controlled State"

Well now there's something to look forward to.

Even if we were to achieve anything even resembling a controlled state, it would be a time-sensitive thing, like the expiration date on a bottle of milk.

We wouldn't be able to hold it for long.
Plus, the US troops are at their most vulnerable in Baghdad. I think statistically it's the most dangerous place to be - in bombed-out buildings, piles of rubble, down dangerous alleyways where they are expecting company.

[IndianaGreen]

8. IOW, Petraeus' surge is a dismal failure

like the surges that it preceded it.

Let's defund the war and go home!

[tabasco]

9. Oh! How they ridiculed General Shinseki!

Those great military experts Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bush and Limbaugh laughed at General Shinseki and his pre-war estimates.

They couldn't show him the door fast enough and replace him and others with boot-licking yes-men.

[mediawatch]

10. so we only have to lose another 12 13 thousand

soldiers and we will have 100% control

great can't wait:sarcasm: :sarcasm: