LAT: Violence Escalates Across Iraq

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20040913/ts_latimes/violenceescalatesacrossiraq&cid=2026&ncid=1480


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The continuing tenacity and vigor of the insurgency highlight the hard road ahead for U.S. forces and Iraqi government officials as they seek to establish control of the country before parliamentary elections scheduled for January. During appearances on Sunday news shows, U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell acknowledged the insurgency's staying power but said the United States was committed to confronting it.


"I think the insurgency can be brought down to a level, and I'd like to see it go away entirely," he said on "Fox News Sunday." "But I think, over time, you will see it being brought under control."


He added that the U.S. planned to deal with cities in the Sunni Triangle that are outside the control of the Iraqi government and U.S.-led forces. The town of Fallouja, west of Baghdad, remains in the hands of local militants, and the U.S. military has only limited access to the northern town of Samarra under terms of a deal struck last week with local tribal and religious leaders.

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"It certainly was an unusual day," said U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Schmierer. "I'd be hard pressed to say why today and what it means in the bigger picture…. Obviously we hope things will calm down."