Bush Address Touts Progress in Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Bush Address Touts Progress in Iraq
Deutsche Presse-Agentur | January 29, 2008

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush said Jan. 28 that security gains in Iraq under his troop buildup should encourage Americans to remain committed to stabilizing the country.

Bush, in his final State of the Union Address, cited the sharp decline in violence since a year ago, when he ordered an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq to quell growing violence, raising the U.S. presence there to 160,000 Soldiers.

"While the enemy is still dangerous, and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago," Bush said before a joint session of Congress.

"When we met last year, many said containing the violence was impossible. A year later, high-profile terrorist attacks are down, civilian deaths are down, and sectarian killings are down."

Bush credited the decision by tribal leaders in the once tumultuous al-Anbar region to help combat al-Qaeda operating there as a key factor in quelling violence in the province, and he described the so-called Sunni "awakening" as a sign that Iraqis largely reject terrorism.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,160979,00.html

[nightrider767]

1. The "Afghan" Strategy

Make the nation's capital look "safe", the rest of the country remains a disaster waiting to happen, but that's ok, because the nightly news never goes into the remote parts area...

A very superficial, very "American" fix. From the outside it looks good.