Iraq getting better? Statistics say yes

Is Iraq getting better? The statistics say so, across the board.


Over the past three months, there has been a sharp and sustained drop in all forms of violence. The figures for dead and wounded, military and civilian, have also greatly improved.

All across Baghdad, which has seen the worst of the violence, streets are springing back to life. Shops and restaurants which closed down are back in business.

People walk in crowded streets in the evening, when just a few months ago they would have been huddled behind locked doors in their homes.
Everybody agrees that things are much better.

But is the improvement only skin deep? And will it last once the American troops, whose "surge" has clearly made a difference, begin to scale down?
In the past few days, two events have underlined big changes that have happened in recent months on both the Sunni and Shia sides of the Iraqi equation.

Read the whole story here:
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Is Iraq getting better?

Scenes of rejoicing
A blow to militants
Bomb attacks rarer
Militia power
Challenges ahead

(emphasis mine)

As a terrorist I would be willing to withdraw, replenish resources and rest up, secure in the knowledge that a surge is by definition temporary, and allow the US free reign to squander valuable resources clearing the nation of polar bears, after which the politicians can happily point out how successful they have been.

i realize that supporters of the war are desperate for even the slightest glimmer of hope, but their desperation is palpable.

of course the insurgents are just laying low for the time being.....according to the US military commanders they've already proven themselves deftly able to switch tactics and adapt to any change the US throws at them.

does the OP assume the insurgents just decided to quit? many of the insurgents are fanatics who will blow themselves up (along with scores of innocents)...and they're just going to go home without a fight because 30,000 US troops showed up for a couple of months? does anyone really believe this to be the case? it's precisely this sort of arrogance that got the US into this situation.....who can forget, "shock and awe" and "we'll be greeted as liberators"....now we're told that "life is returning to normal" because violence is down for a couple of weeks. get some perspective for god's sake.

once the army breaks--and there is no doubt that it will, the whack-a-mole game will continue.

and before the usual suspects start falling all over themselves declaring "Mission Accomplished", i'd hope for a moment they would imagine the devastating psychological impact on the populace if/when there is a return to destruction and violence.

but it could be argued that this is the precise opportunity to get the hell out. OK, shops are open, life is great....to paraphrase another poster...iraq will be the same as it ever was. good luck!

Heh...get ready to lose in '08 there raycarey...:rofl:

"A year from now, neither George Bush nor a quieter Iraq will inflame Democrats. And without these familiar bogeymen, they will to have to state what they are for, rather than what they are against."

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