Violence ebbing in Iraq: US general

[sabra]

Source: AFP

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Violence is ebbing in Iraq and has dipped to the lowest level in 18 months, US military spokesman in Iraq Major General Kevin Bergner said on Wednesday.
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"While Iraq remains a violent place beset by many problems, it is a less violent place than it was last winter," Bergner told a press conference in Baghdad.

"Since the surge operations began 13 weeks ago, the overall security incidents throughout Iraq have followed a downward trend," he said, referring to a US troop "surge" which began in mid-February.

"It is now the lowest level of incidents since March 2006," Bergner said.

"The total number of attacks on a weekly basis against Iraqi citizens, Iraqi security forces and coalition forces has declined for the eighth straight week. This is the longest sustained downward trend since January 2004."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070919/pl_afp/iraqunrestus_070919144419

[Doctor_J]

1. Surge began 13 weeks ago?

Um,, according to Stupid, it began in February.

[babylonsister]

2. It's sad that I can no longer trust a thing any of these people say. nt

[tanyev]

3. Really? So why did the U.S. just ban diplomatic ground movements outside of the Green Zone?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2996352

[Jacobin]

8. That's to encourage them to walk the streets and get exercise

It has nothing to do with security. And, they can shop in bazaars on the way to their meetings without having to worry about parking spaces.

Plus, it'll save gas.

:-)

[0007]

11. ......and the attendance is up at the nightly Christian Bingo games

General Ripandtear said inter league soccer games are ready to begin, with expectations of crowds of 60,000 or more per game.

[damntexdem]

12. Oh, that's because of Blackwater murder of Iraqi civilians.

He wasn't talking about Blackwater-on-Iraqi violence, no matter which way the bullet went through the head.

[daleo]

4. Tell it to the dead U.S. soldiers

March 2006 = 31
August 2007 = 84

They picked a metric that is irrelevant to most people, and probably easy to manipulate ("overall security incidents").

[SpikeTss]

5. Correct headline: An Unjust And Horrific War—Based on Lies

This article gives a realistic view on the new government propaganda offensive about Iraq:

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=51&ItemID=13820

Now Bush claims, in part, that the U.S. is staying in Iraq to prevent “mass killings on a horrific scale,” while condemning Iran for “the murder of innocent Iraqis.” But it is the U.S. invasion itself, and the continuing direct actions of the U.S. military, that have led to “mass killings on a horrific scale” and the “murder of innocent Iraqis.”

And the U.S. escalation—aka “surge”—has made things even worse: The Associated Press reports the death toll for Iraqi civilians is double what it was a year ago. In August, civilian deaths rose to their second highest level this year—at least 1,809.The number of prisoners in U.S.-run jails in Iraq has also increased by fifty-percent under the so-called surge. The U.S. military is now holding some 24,500 prisoners—up from 16,000 earlier this year.

Bush’s true colors came out when he bragged on a recent trip to Australia that “we’re kicking ass.” Bush and the other U.S. politicians could not care less about the hundreds of thousands of human beings who have already died on account of their actions, or of the millions made homeless and destitute.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. I guess not counting certain bombs (only IEDs?) has an impact as well.

Who, in their right mind, would believe anything that comes from either the Pentagon or Bush administration?

[xchrom]

7. why would i want to bother my beautiful mind with reality?

to paraphrase barbara bush.:puke:

[Tempest]

9. So why are all Americans in Iraq being told not to travel outside the Green Zone?

Bergner's a freaking idiot.

[0rganism]

10. not an idiot, but a well-informed tool of the war machine

Calling the general an idiot is giving him far more of an out than he deserves. He knows exactly the extent to which he must twist the data in order to report a result pleasing to his military-industrial masters.