Things That Make You Go Hmm…
by tristero
Wall Street Journal January 8, 2008 :
“Over the past 12 months, U.S. troops in Iraq have risen every day and gone to work, dangerous work, implementing Gen. David H. Petraeus’ counterinsurgency strategy: The surge. Across the political spectrum, observers have announced the surge a success.
Baghdad
– Around 7 a.m., gunmen assassinated an officer of the ministry of interior “ Mohammad Aziz Al-Gatia in his car in Zafrania neighborhood ( east Baghdad) .
– Around 7 30 a.m., gunmen assassinated the deputy of Mansour taxes department in Diragh district in Mansour neighborhood ( west Baghdad).
– Around 11 a.m., an IED was planted inside the car of the head of Yarmouk council ( Dr.Falah Mansour Hussein ) who was killed in the incident with two other people who were injured .
– Around 3 p.m., a suicide bomber wearing a vest filled with explosives targeted a police check point at Al-Medain district ( south of Baghdad) killing one policeman and injuring three ( one policeman and two civilians).
– Around 3 p.m., two mortars hit Medain district ( south of Baghdad ) injuring 2 people.
– Around 3 .30 p.m., a roadside bomb targeted an American patrol at Rashid camp neighborhood ( south east Baghdad) . No casualties reported.
– Police found 5 unidentified dead bodies in the following neighborhood in Baghdad: ( 3 ) dead bodies were found in west Baghdad ( Karkh bank ) ; 1 in Doura , 1 in Bayaa and Amil . While ( 2 ) were found in east Baghdad ( Risafa bank) ; 1 in Ubaidi and 1 in Fudhailiyah.
Diyala
– Tuesday morning, a roadside bomb exploded at a house in Jalwla ( east of Baquba) killing a woman who was the owner of the house.
Oh, and McClatchy cautions us, “This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported.”
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle Eastern Affairs Mark Kimmitt January 8, 2008 :
2008 and beyond will be a success, the surge will be a success, if the gains in security can be translated into gains in stability…if I had to put a number to it, maybe it’s three in 10, maybe it’s 50-50, if we play our cards right.
And of course, “we” will play our cards right.
One final link:US military deaths in Iraq total 3910 as of January 6, 2008. I have to confess that I thought that eventually I’d get somewhat used to the rising toll, but I haven’t. Every death – no matter the nationality – makes me as angry at the sheer insane stupidity of this war as the first.