Iraqi PM sees decline in Baghdad attacks

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Sunday suicide attacks and other bombings in the Iraqi capital have dropped dramatically since last year's high, calling it a sign of the end of sectarian violence. A top U.S. general here said he believes the drop is sustainable, as Iraqis turn away from extremists.

Al-Maliki said "terrorist acts" including car bombings and other spectacular, al-Qaida-style attacks dropped by 77 percent. He called it a sign that Sunni-Shiite violence was nearly gone from Baghdad.


Before the arrival of nearly 30,000 U.S. reinforcements this past spring, explosions shook Baghdad daily — sometimes hourly. The whiz of mortar and rocket fire crisscrossing the Tigris River was frequent. And the pop-pop of gunfire beat out a constant, somber rhythm of killing.

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Now the sounds of warfare are rare. American troops have set up small outposts in some of the capital's most dangerous enclaves. Locals previously lukewarm to the presence of U.S. soldiers patrol alongside them. And a historic lane on the eastern banks of the Tigris is set to reopen later this year, lined with seafood restaurants and an art gallery.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21739712/

Sectarian violence is down, but what about the anger and hatred that fuels it?

to rat out "insurgents" and "extremists". Just what kind of lasting setup is this, that we have to pay off so many to be our eyes and ears? Are we teaching the Sunnis and Shia to get along without us, or are we just reinforcing their dependence on us? Are we just creating a culture of group-against-group, neighbor-against-neighbor mistrust and fear to keep the Iraqis in line? What the hell is the point of all this? This is ultimately not going to end well--maybe not for a few months, or even years, but I think we're screwing up the long-term rebuilding and reconciliation for a short-sighted temporary payoff from pitting various factions against each other.

But it isn't "rare", given that U.S. troop deaths are still averaging 1.5 to 2.0 per day, and there is no reason to believe that will hold. For all we know, it may the (relative) calm before the storm.

I.e. there are less people to kill.

in the desert... Maybe they're too far away.

Who cares about them, hey puppet?

Stand by for more stories with positive spin regarding Iraq... Just in time for the campaign season. The Bushbots will be out pushing their we told you so.. The Surge worked... Democrats on the wrong side of history.. blah.. blah...

I tell them to prove it... We should have never gone it that is a fact. Millions are dead that is a fact... If the mission was accomplished in 03 we should be significantly gone by now that is a fact.. We have poured over a Trillion $'s into this mess that is a fact. We are no safer now that is a fact.

So everyone agrees it is still a mess now who is left to clean it up? Democrats to the rescue...

If I were counseling our leadership I would have them front and center saying that the sooner we get Bush out of office and elect a Democrat we can begin to clean up the mess that has been left in the ME and maybe salvage some kind of hope out of it.