Events in Iraq make a lie out of Bush's claims of 'success'

[bigtree]

Recent operations had cleared "terrorists out of population centers" and given "families in liberated Iraqi cities a safer and more normal life," Bush said today in his radio address:

. . . but . . .


Violence appears to be shifting from Baghdad

Iraqi deaths down from peak but still running at double ’06 pace
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:08 p.m. ET Aug 25, 2007

BAGHDAD - This year’s U.S. troop buildup has succeeded in bringing violence in Baghdad down from peak levels, but the death toll from sectarian attacks around the country is running nearly double the pace from a year ago.

Some of the recent bloodshed appears the result of militant fighters drifting into parts of northern Iraq, where they have fled after U.S.-led offensives. Baghdad, however, still accounts for slightly more than half of all war-related killings — the same percentage as a year ago, according to figures compiled by The Associated Press.

The tallies and trends offer a sobering snapshot after an additional 30,000 U.S. troops began campaigns in February to regain control of the Baghdad area. It also highlights one of the major themes expected in next month’s Iraq progress report to Congress: some military headway, but extremist factions are far from broken.

In street-level terms, it means life for average Iraqis appears to be even more perilous and unpredictable.

The AP tracking includes Iraqi civilians, government officials, police and security forces killed in attacks such as gunfights and bombings, which are frequently blamed on Sunni suicide strikes. It also includes execution-style killings — largely the work of Shiite death squads.

Many deaths still go unreported

The figures are considered a minimum based on AP reporting. The actual numbers are likely higher, as many killings go unreported or uncounted. Insurgent deaths are not a part of the Iraqi count.

The findings: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20440397/



Morale down among U.S. soldiers in Iraq

Aug. 25, 2007 at 5:44 PM

YOUSIFIYA, Iraq, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Many U.S. soldiers in Iraq are voicing displeasure about the positive spin military and White House officials are putting on the war, it was reported Saturday.

They are expressing frustration over longer deployments and dangers of their mission, as well as anger aimed at superiors who present a different picture to folks back home than what the soldiers see, the Los Angeles Times said.

Interviews with soldiers, online rants and surveys on military suicide indicate morale problems are rampant as the Bush administration faces pressure to begin withdrawing troops, the newspaper said.

However, the Army cites re-enlistment numbers as proof morale remains high, noting it expects to reach its retention goal of 62,200 for the fiscal year.

"On the 4th of July, we re-enlisted 588 service members ... in Baghdad," said Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, who visits bases to gauge morale.

Based on his experience, Hill ranks morale at eight on a scale of one to 10.

"Units that are having real success are units where troop morale is extremely high," Hill said. "Units that are sustaining losses, whether it be personnel losses, injuries or casualties -- those are organizations where morale might dip a bit."

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/08/25/morale_down_among_us_soldiers_in_iraq/4574/

[Middle finga]

1. Only a delusional fool would still believe bush at this point

[bigtree]

2. delusional "fools"

proliferate without regular applications of reality and fact to the debate