January is the most US-lethal month in the 4; today scores killed: surge failures

[Thorgrim]

As the GOP keeps bragging that troop deaths are down (As if 20+ lives a month are not important, but more is unbearable...I have no idea where they draw the line) we have more bad news from Iraq

More US Troops were killed in Iraq this month than of the past 4 months

So there goes that argument about a constant fall in US troop deaths

Also on the civilian side things looked horrid today, dozens up dozens of Iraqis were blown up in a dark day of more instability, as the Iraqi government continues to do nothing

Bombs at Baghdad markets kill at least 64 - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com

I really don't want to be hearing about this chaos in Iraq, about these increased deaths of Americans, I want us to finally leave because even with the surge, and a moments breath of "things aren't completely horrid right now" we see there is still much to be done, but it should be done by Iraqis...this is not West Germany or South Korea facing a takeover by world wide communism...this is a country where we could have a quick reaction force of special forces and airstrikes to take out any terrorist stronghold so it never becomes the Afghanistan of 2000, and we can pull out all our boys and welcome them home as heroes

Three cheers for that day, which hopefully starts 2009 with a Democratic President...not the "100 years in Iraq" GOP

[avsp]

i'm not sure of the relevance of 'the gop view' is but, Bush in the surge announcement speech said that an increase in troop deaths was likely, ..., greater engagement etc

As for todays double bombing at a pet market, this is the first large scale civilian death attack in baghdad in a good while.
The very fact that a pet market is open speaks volumes IMO, unless people are eating pets.

Of course, its Iraqi civilian deaths that really matter not those of troops, (not that their deaths are insignificant its just its what they're for & they're volunteers etc)
I do see that electricity production not only isnt climbing but is struggling to stay steady, which is disappointing, ..., there'll be no political progress untill the infrastructure measureably improves, ..., why would any Iraqi politico not merely play for position otherwise?

The perception that theres a lack of committment by CoW nations isnt helping.

Its very easy for jihadists/criminals/ex-baathists/religious nutters/etc to frustrate efforts to build a strong central authority

Theres still not enough CoW troops, ..., the decline in civilian deaths due to the surge & Mahdi cease fires just isnt enough yet.

I'd need some convincing that the situation wouldnt explode into regional conflict if CoW forces left.

The notion that such a situation should it come to pass wouldnt matter or wouldnt impact on the US/west is clearly insane,

civilian death lists
Iraq Body Count
Recent Events :: Iraq Body Count

electric production on page 39 of pdf, (not jan figs not complete yet)
ht tp://www.brookings.edu/saban/ ~/media/Files/Centers/Saban/Iraq%20Index/index.pdf

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

[... snip], but it should be done by Iraqis...this is not West Germany or South Korea facing a takeover by world wide communism...this is a country where we could have a quick reaction force of special forces and airstrikes to take out any terrorist stronghold so it never becomes the Afghanistan of 2000, and we can pull out all our boys and welcome them home as heroes

this isnt the risk as i see it, ..., but even if you're correct they'll take care that there is no stronghold as such to target as they understand asymetric warfare