Is that a light at the end of the tunnel? And is that a train whistle I hear?
You remember Iraq, don’t you? It’s that country on the other side of the world that we invaded because they had weapons of mass destruction to remove a cruel dictator to establish democracy because we want their oil. It’s understandable if you haven’t been paying attention. But never fear, it seems things are still going swimmingly:
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 14 - Insurgents staged at least a dozen suicide bombings that ripped through Baghdad in rapid succession on Wednesday, killing almost 150 people and wounding more than 500 in a coordinated assault that left much of the capital paralyzed.
Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia claimed responsibility for the assault, which inflicted the biggest death toll in Baghdad since the American-led invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam Hussein more than two years ago.
…
Iraqi and American officials have also been anticipating a rise in violence in reaction to Iraq's new constitution, which has provoked angry opposition from many Sunni leaders and demonstrations in several cities since it was presented in the National Assembly last month. The attacks on Wednesday came as the acting speaker of the National Assembly announced that an amended version of the constitution was complete, clearing the way for five million copies to be printed and distributed.
From March, 2004:
Many Iraq watchers are expecting a rise in violence around 10 April, which marks the one-year anniversary of the fall of Baghdad and the culmination of the Muslim religious festival of Ashura.
From April, 2004:
More than 100 American soldiers have died thus far in the month of April. That’s a single month record in Iraq and nearly as many as those killed during the invasion that began a year ago. That sharp rise in deadly violence led the top US administrator in Iraq to admit that Iraqi security forces wont be ready by the scheduled handover of power on June 30th
From September, 2004
On September 12, fifty-nine Iraqis died (twenty-five in Baghdad) in a series of attacks by insurgents that seemed to indicate that the insurgency had grown and had become better organized and more widespread. Scores more were killed in subsequent attacks throughout that week. Violence continued to escalate through September with at least 41 killed - including at least 34 children - in a series of explosions detonated in Baghdad by insurgents on September 30. The same day, U.S. forces launched a major operation against insurgency forces in Samarra and by Oct. 4 had reportedly gained control over 70% of the city.
From April, 2005:
Top Pentagon officials yesterday acknowledged a recent jump in insurgent violence in Iraq but described the escalation as nowhere near the peak levels of the past year and disputed suggestions that it represents a lack of progress.
From May, 2005:
More than 50 people were killed on Monday as a result of bombings in Iraq targeting U.S. troops, Iraqi security forces, and Shi'ite Arab civilians. The bombings were the latest in a rising number of attacks that have led many to express fears that the country is on the verge of a sectarian war. However, analysts say it is too early to speak about a serious sectarian conflict.
Am I the only one detecting a pattern here?
Oh. I guess so.
From May, 2005
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The insurgency in Iraq is "in the last throes," Vice President Dick Cheney says, and he predicts that the fighting will end before the Bush administration leaves office.
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 14 - Insurgents staged at least a dozen suicide bombings that ripped through Baghdad in rapid succession on Wednesday, killing almost 150 people and wounding more than 500 in a coordinated assault that left much of the capital paralyzed.
Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia claimed responsibility for the assault, which inflicted the biggest death toll in Baghdad since the American-led invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam Hussein more than two years ago.
…
Iraqi and American officials have also been anticipating a rise in violence in reaction to Iraq's new constitution, which has provoked angry opposition from many Sunni leaders and demonstrations in several cities since it was presented in the National Assembly last month. The attacks on Wednesday came as the acting speaker of the National Assembly announced that an amended version of the constitution was complete, clearing the way for five million copies to be printed and distributed.
From March, 2004:
Many Iraq watchers are expecting a rise in violence around 10 April, which marks the one-year anniversary of the fall of Baghdad and the culmination of the Muslim religious festival of Ashura.
From April, 2004:
More than 100 American soldiers have died thus far in the month of April. That’s a single month record in Iraq and nearly as many as those killed during the invasion that began a year ago. That sharp rise in deadly violence led the top US administrator in Iraq to admit that Iraqi security forces wont be ready by the scheduled handover of power on June 30th
From September, 2004
On September 12, fifty-nine Iraqis died (twenty-five in Baghdad) in a series of attacks by insurgents that seemed to indicate that the insurgency had grown and had become better organized and more widespread. Scores more were killed in subsequent attacks throughout that week. Violence continued to escalate through September with at least 41 killed - including at least 34 children - in a series of explosions detonated in Baghdad by insurgents on September 30. The same day, U.S. forces launched a major operation against insurgency forces in Samarra and by Oct. 4 had reportedly gained control over 70% of the city.
From April, 2005:
Top Pentagon officials yesterday acknowledged a recent jump in insurgent violence in Iraq but described the escalation as nowhere near the peak levels of the past year and disputed suggestions that it represents a lack of progress.
From May, 2005:
More than 50 people were killed on Monday as a result of bombings in Iraq targeting U.S. troops, Iraqi security forces, and Shi'ite Arab civilians. The bombings were the latest in a rising number of attacks that have led many to express fears that the country is on the verge of a sectarian war. However, analysts say it is too early to speak about a serious sectarian conflict.
Am I the only one detecting a pattern here?
Oh. I guess so.
From May, 2005
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The insurgency in Iraq is "in the last throes," Vice President Dick Cheney says, and he predicts that the fighting will end before the Bush administration leaves office.
posted by dee at 10:43 PM
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