If you really think the United States is still “at stake” for critical things in Iraq, consider these sobering numbers:
- During the period from the establishment of the new Iraqi government on May 20 until Aug. 11, the average number of weekly attacks jumped to almost 800.
- Iraqi casualties among civilians and security forces reached nearly 120 a day, up from about 80 a day in the pervious reporting period from mid-February to mid-May. About two years ago they were running about 30 a day.
- The last several days have been particularly bloody, with about 250 Iraqis killed and scores wounded since Sunday. The Pentagon acknowledged that the grim data on attacks, casualties and executions was distressing. “It’s a pretty sober report this time,” said Peter Rodman, a senior Pentagon official, who met with reporters to discuss it. “The last quarter, it’s been rough. Sectarian violence has been particularly acute and disturbing.”
As I said, even the New York Times is beginning to get the picture – though not clearly. Reports from Iraq indicate that there is no method to know how many Iraqi soldiers/policemen are actually on the job in a given day. It’s total chaos – and it seems like the safest place to be is with the US Army or one of America’s corporate soldiering firms.
It’s not over for the Iraqis, it’s only beginning…but for the US, it’s been over for quite some time.
