Iraqis stepping up attacks on U.S. soldiers

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July 20, 2006

U.S. military confirms sharp rise in attacks on U.S., Iraqi forces in Baghdad

Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Bombings and shootings soared by 40 percent in the Baghdad area in the past week, the U.S. military said Thursday. An American general said extremists were preparing ''an all-out assault'' on the capital in a decisive battle for the future of Iraq.

U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said there had been an average of 34 attacks a day involving U.S. and Iraqi forces in and around the capital since Friday - up sharply from the daily average of 24 registered between June 14 and July 13.

Caldwell said insurgents were streaming into the capital for ''an all-out assault against the Baghdad area.''

''Clearly the death squad elements, the terrorist elements, know that Baghdad is a must-win for them,'' he said. ''Whoever wins the Baghdad area, whoever is able to bring peace and security to that area, is going to set the conditions to stabilize this country.''

The crisis in Baghdad raises questions about the ability of Iraq's U.S.-trained police and army to cope with sectarian violence. That in turn casts doubt about the U.S. timetable for handing over security responsibility to the Iraqis in all 18 provinces by the end of next year.


report: http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=564773291861346031

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1. There are probably more people

who see the US as being NOT on their side. (Due to Lebanon - US support of the bombing))

I'm always surprised that there are any who do - but there seem to be.

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2. The US's 'geeen light' to Israel will further the view by many Arabs that

Israel and the US are conspiring against Muslims. That's of course way too simplistic (mostly untrue) and self serving for those who may actively oppose Israel anyway, but to the extent that the US may have been able to use its influence to halt the violence there, that ship has sailed. I do think there is a real risk that every day the conflict continues to take lives, there will be more folks who are sympathetic to either Hizbollah or anti-US in general who will act that out wherever the US citizens, agents, or allies are. The risk of a widened war is hanging on the will of Bush to forcefully intervene. Any bets on that happening? Even if he did, I don't think his word means much internationally. Watch the EU.