NYT: Defying U.S. Efforts, Guerrillas In Iraq Refocus and Strengthen

[leftchick]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/international/middleeast/24insurgents.html?hp&ex=1122177600&en=aba81522790293ac&ei=5094&partner=homepage

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 23 - They just keep getting stronger.

Despite months of assurances that their forces were on the wane, the guerrillas and terrorists battling the American-backed enterprise here appear to be growing more violent, more resilient and more sophisticated than ever.

Clerics' Group Says It Won't Urge Sunnis to Boycott Votes (July 24, 2005) A string of recent attacks, including the execution of moderate Sunni leaders and the kidnapping of foreign diplomats, has brought home for many Iraqis that the democratic process that has been unfolding since the Americans restored Iraqi sovereignty in June 2004 has failed to isolate the insurgents and, indeed, has become the target itself.

After concentrating their efforts for two and a half years on driving out the 138,000-plus American troops, the insurgents appear to be shifting their focus to the political and sectarian polarization of the country - apparently hoping to ignite a civil war - and to the isolation of the Iraqi government abroad.

And the insurgents are choosing their targets with greater precision, and executing and dramatizing their attacks with more sophistication than they have in the past.

[SpiralHawk]

1. Didn't they get the memo?

"Mission Accomplished." - George W. Bush, May 2, 2003

[pfitz59]

4. yep, perpetual war.....

for perpetual profit! mission accomplished

[tk2kewl]

also...

terrorists, not "guerrillas"

[mike_c]

2. it's the energizer bunny of last throes....

It just keeps on going, and going, and going. But no worries, victory is just around the corner....

[tanyev]

3. Guess they're not watching Fox News.

[AlinPA]

5. "Next on Faux: Why does the New York Times hate America? Dont't they

like freedom"?