Secret report warns of Iraq 'Balkanisation'

[JohnyCanuck]

A confidential report prepared by the US-led administration in Iraq says that the attacks by insurgents in the country have escalated sharply, prompting fears of what it terms Iraq's "Balkanisation". The findings emerged after a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the top US general in Iraq, John Abizaid, on Thursday.


"January has the highest rate of violence since September 2003," the report said. "The violence continues despite the expansion of the Iraqi security services and increased arrests by coalition forces in December and January."

The report, which is based on military data and circulated to foreign organisations by the US aid agency USAid, diverges with public statements by US officials who claim that security in the country is improving.

<snip>

But attacks on military targets, which had seen two months of decline, rose even faster than those on civilians, it said, particularly in the "Sunni triangle", north and west of Baghdad. It described the "profuse availability" of roadside bombs, the favoured weapon of the insurgents, as "alarming", saying attacks had surged almost 200 per cent.

Secret report warns of Iraq Balkanisation

[Sagan]

1. I called that more than a year ago

Where do I send the bill?

[RedEarth]

2. I think a lot of people outside of this administration realized

our invasion would create civil war within Iraq. Last night on
"Frontline" they covered the immense tensions between all the different groups through-out Iraq. It's unbelievable Bush and company didn't think of this before-hand.

[neverforget]

3. But I thought we would be greeted with flowers?

:eyes: