Despite violence drop, officers see bleak future for Iraq

[sabra]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD — Despite U.S. claims that violence is down in the Iraqi capital, U.S. military officers are offering a bleak picture of Iraq’s future, saying they’ve yet to see any signs of reconciliation between Sunni and Shiite Muslims despite the drop in violence.

Without reconciliation, the military officers say, any decline in violence will be temporary and bloodshed could return to previous levels as soon as the U.S. military cuts back its campaign against insurgent attacks.

...

U.S. officials say the number of civilian casualties in the Iraqi capital is down 50 percent. But U.S. officials declined to provide specific numbers, and statistics gathered by McClatchy Newspapers don't support the claim.

The number of car bombings in July actually was 5 percent higher than the number recorded last December, according to the McClatchy statistics, and the number of civilians killed in explosions is about the same.


Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/18927.html

[Teaser]

1. McClatchy does actual journalism

A political military figure makes a quantitative statement about violence, and rather than just reporting it, McClatchy actually crunches the numbers and reports that they don't square with the press release.

Why is McClatchy so good at this? And why can no one else do it?

[dipsydoodle]

2. Ironical that these should be adjacent posts

Wed Aug-15-07 04:35 PM
Despite violence drop, officers see bleak future for Iraq
your one.

Wed Aug-15-07 04:13 PM
At least 200 dead after Iraq blasts
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2954616

[peace13]

3. Yes, I am sure that it is just paradise in Baghdad now! n/t

[Highway61]

4. 250 bodies TODAY in Iraq!!!

Yeah sure, violence is down alright. Master's of War at it again.

[customerserviceguy]

6. The original statement

was that "violence was down in the Iraqi capital", and the killings you refer to were in Kurdish areas in northern Iraq. As I recall, US forces and the supporters of this war declared the Kurdish areas "safe" some time ago. The operative point of this story is that whenever US troops are not fully involved in babysitting the Iraqi factions, the civil war heats back up. I've gotten in numerous arguments with rethug acquaintances who tell me that the Anbar province is now secured, I just say, wait till we leave to deal with another hot spot...

Sad to say, but like many countries in the history of the world, they may just have to have their own full out civil war in order to be able to work past ancient hatreds.

[superconnected]

5. Violence drop? I take it this reporter only watches faux...