Saturday, December 03, 2005
Bad News From Iraq Continues
Every time the preznit gives us a speech to tell us how everything is really going okay in Iraq despite all evidence to the contrary, the preznit's message is contradicted by reality.
And so it is again. From Reuters:
So far this month, 14 American soldiers have died in Iraq. It is only December 3rd.
No matter what the preznit says about how great the political process is going in Iraq, the country is on the brink of civil war. The sectarian violence and revenge killings between Sunni and Shi'a prove that fact.
No matter how much progress the preznit claims has been made in the training of Iraqi forces, every fact-checking done by reputable news media have noted the preznit is being optimistic at best and decpetive at worst in his characterization of Iraqis nearly ready to take over their own defense. For instance, the preznit claimed Iraqi forces "primarily led" the assault on Tal Afar. Michael Ware, a TIME reporter, told Anderson Cooper (video on Crooks and Liars) that simply was untrue.
So the bad news from Iraq continues, as it has for months and months now. The spin from the administration also continues, as does the propaganda both in our media and the press over in Iraq (paid for by your hard earned US tax dollars, of course.)
Unfortunately for the preznit and fortunately for the nation, few outside of the extreme wingnuttery are believing the preznit's word over the facts on the ground and the pictures on the television anymore.
And so it is again. From Reuters:
BAQUBA, Iraq (Reuters) - Insurgents ambushed an Iraqi army patrol north of Baghdad on Saturday, killing 19 soldiers in a well-planned attack, a day after the Pentagon announced 10 U.S. Marines were killed by a bomb west of the capital.
The Iraqi soldiers were traveling in a five-vehicle patrol near Baquba, 60 km (40 miles) from Baghdad, when they were hit by a roadside bomb. Immediately afterwards, gunmen opened fire in what police described as a well-planned assault.
Police sources said 19 soldiers were killed and that they were all from southern Iraq where the population is largely Shi'ite Muslim, potentially adding a sectarian element to the attack.
The deaths come amid a rise in insurgent violence ahead of elections set for December 15, and amid growing tensions between Iraq's Muslim sects. In a move that could aggravate those tensions, the country's top Shi'ite cleric has urged Shi'ites to turn out and vote for religious candidates on election day.
The attack in Baquba, where there has been a surge in guerrilla activity over the past three weeks, followed the assault on the Marines near the former rebel city of Falluja on Thursday, the deadliest attack on U.S. troops for four months.
The Marines were on a foot patrol near a factory when they were struck by a bomb made out of several artillery shells strung together, the Marine Corps said. The deaths raise to more than 2,120 the number of U.S. troops to have died in the war.
...
U.S. commanders have said they expect an increase in violence in the build up to the election. Over the past three weeks there has a been a series of car bombings and suicide attacks that have killed more than 230 Iraqis, mostly civilians.
Many of the strikes have been sectarian in nature, with Sunni Arab insurgents targeting the Shi'ite majority in an attempt to sow discord and push the country closer to civil war.
...
Separately, four Western aid workers kidnapped a week ago appeared in a second militant video aired by Al Jazeera TV. The four -- two Canadians, a Briton and an American -- face death unless all 12,000 prisoners in Iraq are released by December 8.
So far this month, 14 American soldiers have died in Iraq. It is only December 3rd.
No matter what the preznit says about how great the political process is going in Iraq, the country is on the brink of civil war. The sectarian violence and revenge killings between Sunni and Shi'a prove that fact.
No matter how much progress the preznit claims has been made in the training of Iraqi forces, every fact-checking done by reputable news media have noted the preznit is being optimistic at best and decpetive at worst in his characterization of Iraqis nearly ready to take over their own defense. For instance, the preznit claimed Iraqi forces "primarily led" the assault on Tal Afar. Michael Ware, a TIME reporter, told Anderson Cooper (video on Crooks and Liars) that simply was untrue.
So the bad news from Iraq continues, as it has for months and months now. The spin from the administration also continues, as does the propaganda both in our media and the press over in Iraq (paid for by your hard earned US tax dollars, of course.)
Unfortunately for the preznit and fortunately for the nation, few outside of the extreme wingnuttery are believing the preznit's word over the facts on the ground and the pictures on the television anymore.
