Unless you've spent the last six months getting your news only from Fox News, the Washington Times and Rush Limbaugh - except for his brief absence for that rehab thing - then a lot of the information in this story will not be news:
U.S. Officials and Iraqis Agree That Conflict Will Get Worse Los Angeles Times 12/14/03
But there's some new reporting, as well. And it gives a picture that's consistent with that coming from other news outlets whose primary purpose is something other than promoting the Administration's favored version of realtiy. It notes:
... U.S. officials point to progress: a drop in daily attacks against coalition forces by more than 50% — from a high of 55 daily attacks a month ago to 20 today — as the Army launched several major offensives involving bombing runs, house-to-house searches, enhanced patrols and the encirclement of entire villages with barbed wire.
But the story adds:
Despite the drop-off in the overall number of attacks, November still featured more coalition fatalities — 111 — than any month since the war began in March, in part because of the crash of four U.S. helicopters under fire. The psychological toll is such that there is a widespread expectation that the recent lull in Baghdad is a prelude to some kind of major insurgent operation — and there is little to be done to stop it.
So the number of attacks is dropping off for the moment while the Army is undertaking a major counter-offensive. Which is what would be expected in a guerrilla war. But the number of US deaths is going up, because the resistance is becoming more effective. This is progress?
The article also uses classic journalistic restraint to point out that the official estimate of only 5,000 active members of the resistance is not a credible one, because it "excludes a much larger civilian base that can be counted on for additional recruits and logistical support."
1 comment:
Interesting as usual, Bruce. What a mess!
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