Petraeus says security crackdown working

[wakeme2008]

Source: USA Today

Petraeus says security crackdown working
Updated 7h 32m ago
By César G. Soriano, USA TODAY
BAGHDAD — When Gen. David Petraeus drives through the streets of Iraq's capital, he sees "astonishing signs of normalcy" in half, perhaps two-thirds of Baghdad.

"I'm talking about professional soccer leagues with real grass field stadiums, several amusement parks — big ones, markets that are very vibrant," says Petraeus, commander of the roughly 150,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. The scenes provide a sign that the new strategy in Iraq is working, although many problems remain, he told USA TODAY in an interview Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-06-13-petraeus-security_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

---

Did anybody think a Loyal Bushie would say anything other than the Surge is Working :grr:

[AndyA]

1. Didn't the Pentagon just say yesterday or today that it wasn't working?

Who the hell really knows what the truth is. As long as troops are dying, it's not working. They have no business being over there in the first place. Bring them home and send Bush and Cheney and their cronies over their to fight the war, if they believe in it that much.

We'll stay home and watch it on TV.

[liberal N proud]

13. The bu$h regime didn't like that answer so they changed it.

Writing their version of history before it is history.

[saigon68]

20. More Useless deaths for Cheney's Halliburton

And their Piggish Profits

[Supersedeas]

29. that would be in line with the mexed missages Bush appointees are known for

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

42. I'm confused...

Another thread today is entitled: "Petraeus Says Iraq Plan Won't Succeed By September":

The ``aggregate level'' of violence has not diminished since the troop increase began five months ago, General David Petraeus said in an interview on ``Fox News Sunday.'' Asked whether he thought the strategy could succeed by early September when he's due to report to Congress, Petraeus was negative.

[Roland99]

2. He's *still* going on about amusement parks?!?!?!

Well, when Six Flags - Baghdad and Baghdad Disney open up, let me know, ok General??



Here ya go, General:

06/14/07 Reuters: 25 bodies found in Baghdad on Wednesday
Twenty-five bodies were found shot and tortured around Baghdad on Wednesday, police said.

06/14/07 AFP: Sunni mosques attacked after Shiite shrine bombing
Two Sunni mosques were bombed in Iraq on Thursday in apparent reprisal for an attack on a revered Shiite shrine, sparking fears of fresh sectarian bloodletting despite appeals for calm.

06/13/07 WaPo: No Drop in Iraq Violence Seen Since Troop Buildup
Three months into the new U.S. military strategy that has sent tens of thousands of additional troops into Iraq, overall levels of violence in the country have not decreased, as attacks have shifted away from Baghdad and Anbar...

06/13/07 NYTimes: Iraqis Are Failing to Meet U.S. Benchmarks
Iraq’s political leaders have failed to reach agreements on nearly every law that the Americans have demanded as benchmarks, despite heavy pressure from Congress, the White House and top military commanders. With only three months until progress...

06/13/07 WaPo: General calls Iraqi forces inadequate
A senior U.S. military commander said yesterday that Iraq's army must expand its rolls by at least 20,000 more soldiers next year than Washington had anticipated, to help free U.S. troops from conducting daily patrols, checkpoints...



US Wounded
----------

May-2007 652
Apr-2007 636
Mar-2007 604
Feb-2007 508

[rock]

3. Fox, henhouse

Need I say more?

[babylonsister]

4. Was that before or after he said, "This is a serious blow."?

Make up your mind, Petraeus, but your word is fast becoming moot.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1106698&mesg_id=1106698

[saigon68]

41. Petraeus doesn't care about his subordinates killed daily

In fact he is like a child playing in a sand box

[HereSince1628]

5. Hurricane Katrina also left the vast majority of US property untouched

So it wasn't a problem either. :eyes:

[babylonsister]

6. Overall violence in Iraq has not diminished, report says

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/17364853.htm

Overall violence in Iraq has not diminished, report says
By Nancy A. Youssef
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department report released Wednesday acknowledges that violence in Iraq has not diminished, despite the arrival of thousands of additional U.S. and Iraqi troops in Baghdad.

The report, which measured Iraq's progress from February to May, gives a less optimistic assessment of the impact of the so-called surge than commanders on the ground offered during that same period.

In April, Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander in Iraq, had called the improvement in security "a good bit better," though he added that "I am not trying in any way, shape or form to indicate that this is a satisfactory situation whatsoever."

The report, however, pointed out that overall attacks and casualties had increased in Iraq 40 percent over the same period a year ago and that while sectarian murders declined, car bombings and other attacks increased. Violence in Baghdad dropped with the arrival of more American troops there, but rose in other areas, particularly Diyala province northeast of the capital and Nineveh, a mostly Sunni province to the north, the report said.

Since the report was written, U.S. officials have said that sectarian murders in Baghdad also have increased. According to statistics compiled by McClatchy Newspapers, there was a 70 percent increase in sectarian murders in Baghdad from April to May.

more...

[whistle]

7. Oh, well then it must be true if Gen Petraeus says it, eh....

<from "Apocalypse Now">

Kilgore: You either surf or you fight.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willard: Are you crazy God damnit? Don't you think its a little risky for some R&R?
Kilgore: If I say its safe to surf this beach Captain, then its safe to surf this beach. I mean I'm not afraid to surf this place, I'll surf this whole fucking place!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kilgore: Charlie don't surf!

[nascar55]

8. "astonishing signs of normalcy"

curfew till further notice in Baghdad.....normal......

[Javaman]

33. You know, when I think of normalcy, I think of power for only maybe 4 hours a day...

no running water, garbage piled up everywhere, out breaks of cholera, dysentery and other water born diseases, neighbors getting killed or blown to bits at the market, fuel shortages when we produce our own fuel and my places of worship being blown to smithereens.

yeah, completely normal.

We need an emoticon for some sort of primal rage scream, until then, this will do...

:banghead:

[annabanana]

9. He's rehearsing for the big September announcement::

"We are beginning to see results. It would be a mistake to pull out now. If we did there would be a bloodbath. It will become evident within the next 6 months."

[DrDan]

10. that's why all the mosques are so safe

[Solly Mack]

11. He drive through those streets unarmed? unshielded? without guards?

and without scouts?


"astonishing signs of normalcy" can be found in any "war" zone or natural disaster area - doesn't stop the dying, the deprivation or the suffering. It's a testament to the will of the human spirit and NOT because some policy is working.

Now Petraeus, take that drive outside the green zone...and get back to us.

[DrDan]

12. I guess he should read this morning's paper

"Several mortar bombs land in Iraq's Green Zone"

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B360333.htm

[tabasco]

14. Petraeus is a gutless yes-man for the Bush oil mafia and a disgrace to the uniform.

Every general with an ounce of moral courage was retired and replaced with stooges like Betrayus.

[Zodiak]

16. I love that twist on his name

very appropriate.

Bush doesn;t change Generals for competence, he does it for loyalty. He waits for the present General to get frustrated and start coming apart at the seams, and then he replaces him with a fresh new one.

By the way, where is the "War Czar" in all of this? Haven't heard from that other yes-man prick

[Javaman]

34. they will trot out the war czar when they can't spin the unspinable anylonger...

and need someone to blame until then, they keep him wrapped in plastic in the closet.

[Virginia Dare]

15. That's strange, because the front page of my newspaper says..

the opposite. :shrug:

I also saw yesterday where a holy sight got blown up, and people were pretty pissed off about it. :freak:

[truth2power]

17. What a colossal load of crap! Petraeus is certifiable...

I would say, "Show me the pictures," but what with PhotoShop and all, these days, I wouldn't believe that either.

Soccer stadiums? Last I heard, they were using those for mass graves to bury all the innocent Iraqis we've killed. Yes, I read that! Maybe it was in Fallujah, but nevertheless...

Someone should get hold of that Journalist, Burns, the guy with the fuzzy grey hair who reports from Baghdad. Would he be willing to corrorborate that? How about if Petraeus provides a VIDEO of himself riding a roller-coaster. All "big" amusement parks have at least one, don't they?

Christ!!! These monsters are MOCKING us. That's the only explanation I can come up with. I despise them all! :rant:

:mad: :mad: :mad: :nuke: :nuke:



edit> changed "him" to "himself" to distinguish Betrayus from Burns.

[maddezmom]

18. alternate headline in USA today: General: Shrine attack may light fuse

By César G. Soriano, USA TODAY
BAGHDAD — The bombing of a major Shiite shrine could unleash a new wave of sectarian bloodletting throughout Iraq, the commander of U.S. forces there said Wednesday.

In an interview with USA TODAY, Gen. David Petraeus said that the U.S. military was reinforcing checkpoints and helping maintain a ban on car traffic in Baghdad following the attack. A bombing of the same shrine in Samarra in February 2006 triggered months of fighting between Sunnis and Shiites that left thousands dead.


The general said that violence between Sunnis and Shiites in Baghdad had recently been "trending down" again after a brief jump in May, thanks in part to increased U.S. patrols. "But, candidly, we're going to have to see what the impact of this tragedy in Samarra is on that," he said.

The explosion toppled the two towers, or minarets, that had been left standing after last year's bombing shattered the shrine's golden dome. Petraeus said he believed the attack was carried out by al-Qaeda.


more;http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-06-13-iraq-wednesday_N.htm?csp=34

[BootinUp]

19. Oops, there goes his credibility. n/t

[leftchick]

21. "Has Baghdad Captured Petraeus?"

why yes I believe it has.....

<snip>

An “exit strategy” from Iraq that depends on fighting rather than political agreements will wash Baghdad’s streets in blood this summer. Much of it American blood.

What then, as the question goes, are we fighting for?

To avoid a humiliating and bloody retreat from Baghdad? Is this what our soldiers are killing and dying for? Or to prevent a defeat that has been brought on by corrupt leadership at the highest level of our government? Or to prop up an incompetent administration in Washington until the next election?

Historically, the result of such misguided policies is always the same: Dead fighters on both sides. Many more dead civilians. And humiliation for the invaders, no matter how brave or patriotic they might be.

Now is the time, before it is too late, to lay the groundwork for all parties concerned with the destiny of Iraq to forge a truce that will permit General Petraeus and his army to leave Baghdad with some semblance of military honor. Otherwise, so many American soldiers will be stationed in vulnerable posts throughout the city that it could be said Baghdad has captured General Petraeus.

Just as Philadelphia once captured General Howe.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/13/1858/

[sinkingfeeling]

22. Didn't I read yesterday that there's a 3PM curfew in Baghdad? So when do the people get to

use these soccer fields and amusement parks?

[Javaman]

35. When the rest of the body armor arrives for the civilians, until then

they can only look at the feilds from their shattered windows.

[MidwestTransplant]

23. They don't have power or water. How can it be so vibrant?

[Barrett808]

24. Let's check in on today's news roundups, shall we?

Round-up of daily violence, Thursday 14 June 2007
McClatchy Newspapers

The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.

Around 9 am. bombs were planted inside Risala police station in Abu Ghraib ( 20 km west of Baghdad) which was empty as it is under construction and it is fully destroyed .

- Around 12 pm , random fire took place in Risala neighborhood ( west Baghdad) injuring three residents in the area.

- Around 12.30 pm, seven mortars hit Nahrawan district ( south of Baghdad) without having casualties recorded. Diyala ( 66 km north of Baghdad)

- Around 5 pm of Wednesday , gunmen planted bombs inside Ali Kamal Al-Deen shrine ( the son of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim ) at Arab Thuailib village ( 10 km north of Khalis and 25 km north of Baquba) and then, they destroyed the dome and a great part of the shrine.

- News was on TV telling that the head of Diyala university disappeared in ambiguous situations while he made a phone call with us telling that he is in Calar in Suleimania governorate ( 331 km north of Baghdad) looking for security and peace as he is displaced from his city ( Baquba) and informing us that 12 lecturers were killed from Diyala university and 44 other lecturers transferred to other universities in the south and north seeking for safe.

Basra ( 549 south of Baghdad)

- Wednesday night and Thursday morning , the British bases in Basra were targets for indirect fires and RBG7 missiles ,but no casualties recorded

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/special_packages/iraq/17368580.htm

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, June 14
June 14 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1200 GMT on Thursday:

* denotes new or updated item.

* BAGHDAD - Mortar bombs and rockets landed in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, Reuters reporters said. Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

BAGHDAD - Twenty-five bodies were found shot and tortured around Baghdad on Wednesday, police said.

* MOSUL - Four bodies were recovered from different areas of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

* RIYADH - A suicide bomber wounded three policemen and three soldiers in the town of Riyadh, 60 km (40 miles) southwest of Kirkuk, police said.

ISKANDARIYA - Three Sunni Muslim mosques were attacked and burned by unidentified gunmen south of Baghdad early on Thursday, police said.

LATIFIYA - One body was found with gunshot wounds and signs of torture in Latifiya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

NEAR BALAD - Gunmen killed two farmers and wounded another three near Balad, 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14573970.htm

Actually, kind of a slow news day for Iraq. Only 25 tortured, mutilated people found dead in the streets of Baghdad. Did Gen. Petraeus see any of those laying in the street as he toured around?

[Hubert Flottz]

25. Bucking and sucking for Field Marshall?

[friendly_iconoclast]

26. Did he also announce an increase in the chocolate ration?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

27. We can't question Gen. "wake me up when September comes" Patreaus

Because, as GOP and pundits like to remind us, Dems didn't fight against him in the Senate and most voted for his confirmation, which, of course, means that they/we supported him and should "give him (and the "surge" by extension) a chance"! :sarcasm:

[xchrom]

28. ...

:eyes:

[dogfacedboy]

30. Petraeus is a greasy, bootlicking Cheneyslave n/t

[The Stranger]

31. Did they cut off General Betrayed-us before he finished his sentence?

Something like "markets that are very vibrant . . . because they are being fucking blown up every day killing scores every single day"?

[Javaman]

32. Yeah it's working great! after 4 years 2 months and x amount of days...

3500+ soldiers dead, 600,000 civilians dead and billions of our dollars pissed away, we control a third of baghdad!

That's what I call a fucking success story.

excuse me for a moment I have to do this...

:banghead:

[leftyladyfrommo]

36. Well, Yeah. No one is allowed out of their houses. n/t

[maddezmom]

37. 6/17/07 Petraeus: No 'substantial achievements' from Iraqi leaders amid troop increase

Petraeus: No 'substantial achievements' from Iraqi leaders amid troop increase
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When he was being confirmed for his post five months ago, the top U.S. general in Iraq said the "objective" of the increase in U.S. troops was to help the Iraqi government make "tough decisions" and "move forward." But in an interview Sunday, Gen. David Petraeus acknowledged that has not happened.

"There certainly have not been real substantial achievements in that regard so far," he told Fox News Sunday.

But, Petraeus said, Iraqi leaders "are very much coming to grips" with issues involving oil revenues, and that there have been "smaller achievements," such as in creating a budget.

Petraeus' remarks came after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last week questioned his credibility, noting an interview in which Petraeus cited "astonishing signs of normalcy in Baghdad."

more:http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/06/17/sunday/index.html

[conspirator]

38. He's sounding more and more like the iraq information minister during the invasion nt

[maddezmom]

39. Baghdad Bob

:D

[Maeve]

40. Half to 2/3? Or more like 40%??

"The curfew was lifted just hours after a top American general acknowledged that security forces have full control in only 40 percent of the city."

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20070617-0405-iraq.html