Gen. Casey: 'Terrorists, Death Squads' to Blame in Iraq (more US troops?)

[sabra]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203103,00.html

Gen. Casey: 'Terrorists, Death Squads' to Blame in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Wednesday that "terrorists and death squads" are mainly responsible for a surge in sectarian violence in the capital, and he pledged to provide whatever U.S. forces are needed to avert civil war.

Gen. George Casey, at a joint news conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, told reporters that Al Qaeda is carrying out terrorist killings in the Baghdad area in an attempt to "demonstrate that they are still relevant" after the June 7 killing of their leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

`What we are seeing now as a counter to that is death squads, primarily from Shiite extremist groups that are retaliating against civilians," Casey said. "So you have both sides now attacking civilians, and that is what has caused the recent spike in violence here in Baghdad."

Casey said he was consulting with the Iraqi government on means of counteracting the violence. Asked whether that might include putting more U.S. troops in the Baghdad area, Casey replied, "It may, yes."

[gratuitous]

1. Everywhere Negroponte goes, death squads follow

That guy just has the worst luck!

More troops in the Baghdad area means one of two things: Fewer troops in the rest of Iraq (which is just such a peaceful and tranquil place); or more troops drawn from the U.S. And with hurricane season coming on in the Atlantic coast states and fire season coming on out west, if the second choice is used, it looks like a lot of states will be on their own in the event of a natural disaster.

I mean a natural disaster not named George W. Bush.

[xchrom]

3. south america and now the middle east.

you'd think SOMEONE in the media would connect at least a couple of very closely spaced dots.

yeah -- live in hope and die in frustration.

[saigon68]

4. Gen Casey smokes CRACK

Ass Hat

[MichiganVote]

2. Civil wars do that sort of thing..."recent spike in violence" ?????? n/t