One Step Forward, Two Back: Iraq genre: Just Jihad

Despite repeated assurances to the contrary, the recent redeployment of U.S. troops to secure the dangerous streets of Baghdad raises some serious questions about the progress in Iraq. We are regularly told that the Iraqi military and security forces are increasing in numbers and preparedness to deal with the general security of the country as well as the growing sectarian violence. The Associated Press report today raises doubts as to the actual progress being made.

Baghdad, Iraq - American soldiers have again hit the streets of dangerous neighborhoods in western Baghdad that had been handed over to Iraqi forces, trying to keep a lid on sectarian attacks that have raged since the February bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra.

The U.S. military has refocused its mission to confront death squads that have tortured and killed hundreds, a tacit acknowledgment that Iraqi troops have not been able to control violence between Shiites and Sunnis on their own.

Fewer attacks are now directed against Americans, soldiers say. At the same time, the number of Iraqis found slain, apparently in tit-for-tat killings by Shiite and Sunni extremists, has sharply increased in western neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, I interpret this to mean two things...one, Iraq is increasingly closer to full-fledged civil war...and two, Iraqi military and security forces are not standing up to the growing conflict so that American troop presence in the country can soon be reduced. It's hard to accept the "good news" when the majority of the news seems to paint a much gloomier picture. Polls seem to demonstrate that the American public sees the same thing.

Daniel DiRito | April 11, 2006 | 9:01 AM
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