Violence Surges as Cheney Visits Iraq--WaPo

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/18/AR2005121800474.html?referrer=email


U.S. Troops Told That Nation Has 'Turned the Corner'

By Jonathan Finer and Naseer Nouri
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, December 19, 2005; Page A14

BAGHDAD, Dec. 18 -- Violence and civil unrest surged across Iraq on Sunday as Vice President Cheney made his first visit here in more than a decade, praising what he called the "remarkable" turnout by voters in nationwide elections Thursday and telling U.S. troops that the country had "turned the corner."

Shrouded in fortified compounds and shuttled between venues by squadrons of helicopters, Cheney came on a day that underscored the deep economic and security challenges the country faces.

The government sparked angry protests in several cities by announcing a steep increase in fuel prices, currently the lowest in the Middle East and among the lowest in the world. And insurgents ended the lull in violence during the election period by launching a string of attacks across the country that killed more than 30 people, including 20 truck drivers and crew members on a highway north of Baghdad.

Despite possessing one of the world's largest known oil reserves, Iraq imports about $500 million a month in fuel, including gasoline, because its refinery infrastructure is outdated and in disrepair.







Special correspondents Omar Fekeiki in Baghdad, Saad Sarhan in Najaf and Hassan Shammari in Baqubah contributed to this report.

that Iraq has "turned a corner"...typical of this Administration, they left out the crucial "and hit a wall" portion.

"surge in violence" aside, you'd think after this great "victory" that the mighty assistant savior in chief could descend like the messiah from the heavens in a blaze of glory and trod the rose-petal-strewn red carpet that his newly "liberated" and devoted supplicants line in his honor. no, old butcher boy is "Shrouded in fortified compounds and shuttled between venues by squadrons of helicopters."

tsk tsk, like "mission accomplished," "victory" might prove to be elusive for the clueless miscreants . . . :eyes:

"Cheney was shuttled in a group of Blackhawk helicopters, which maneuvered quickly to avoid getting shot. The entourage flew quickly over Baghdad and surveyed the area by the airport which has been the scene of deadly violence."

The helicopter had guns mounted on the sides"

Isn't that just fabulous? I bet Cheney sweated big time. I'm proud of the old boy.

and it was looking great over there. :shrug:

but we already knew that

Oh, that election thing will fix things right up. jr says "trust me".