Pentagon says Iraq violence spreading

[Kadie]

Pentagon says Iraq violence spreading
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
29 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - Sectarian violence is spreading in Iraq, reflecting the most complex security challenges since the U.S. invasion in 2003, the Pentagon said Friday.

"Conditions that could lead to civil war exist in Iraq, specifically in and around Baghdad, and concern about civil war within the Iraqi civilian population has increased in recent months," it said in a quarterly report to Congress on U.S. efforts to stabilize the country.

That assessment, which has been expressed publicly by U.S. military commanders and others in recent weeks, was tempered by a degree of optimism that the Iraqi government — with support from U.S. troops — will succeed in quelling the sectarian strife. Optimism among ordinary Iraqis, however, has declined, the 63-page report said.

When asked whether they believe "things will be better" in the future, the percentage of Iraqis responding positively has dropped fairly consistently over the past year — whether they were asked to look ahead six months, one year or five years — according to polling data cited in the report.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060901/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_1

[bigtree]

1. they want it both ways. they want to pretend the conflict started today

and they've just begun to address it. The fact is that they've been at this for years and they,ve failed miserably. It can only get worse from here as their presence multiplies the animosity and escalates the violent reprisals directed at our forces and anyone aligned with them and their puppet regime.

[Solly Mack]

2. Yep

[bullimiami]

3. earlier this week they told us the violence was down by 50%.

i believe nothing im told and am sure of only some of what i suspect.