Aug

13

Major Attacks Down by 50% in Iraq

by Stephan Tawney | 10:03 am 

USA Today reports:

The number of truck bombs and other large al-Qaeda-style attacks in Iraq have declined nearly 50% since the United States started increasing troop levels in Iraq about six months ago, according to the U.S. military command in Iraq.

The high-profile attacks — generally large bombs hitting markets, mosques or other “soft” targets that produce mass casualties — have dropped to about 70 in July from a high during the past year of about 130 in March, according to the Multi-National Force — Iraq.

The surge is working. The other reason? Former insurgents are joining our side.

Al-Qaeda militants generally attempt large, headline-grabbing incidents aimed at symbolic targets or mass casualties. Al-Qaeda in Iraq, for example, claimed responsibility for the April suicide bomb attack on parliament.

Successes against al-Qaeda have also been helped by shifting Sunni public opinion and a growing number of insurgent defections, the military says.

“Tribes and people are starting to stand up and fight back,” said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, deputy commander of the U.S. division north of Baghdad. “They are turning against al-Qaeda.”

Very good news. Not for Democrats. That’s why this won’t exactly be the story of the year in the media. As Bryan says, it’s a race for time, now. Can public opinion hold out long enough, that we can accomplish our mission? Or will the anti-war crowd and insurgents prevail?

Comments

Leave a Reply