Troop surge shows promising signs
The Washington Times reports that in raids against terrorists forces (conducted on March 3rd), American and Iraqi soldiers killed six and captured another 41 in their ongoing effort to destroy the multiple warring groups terrorizing Iraq.
In response to this success both the Iraqi government and some Iraqis themselves say the situation has improved since February when the US stepped up its security measures. Thanks to the success Iraqi officials are pushing back the nightly curfew from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and individual Iraqis feel that several neighborhoods are now safer.
Staff Sgt. Brian Long sees progress but admits that it is “too early to tell if the surge is working.” Still, he said, “even coming to an agreement to not kill each other is a step in a positive direction; it has happened in some neighborhoods.”
The article concludes by noting that most Iraqis are adopting a wait and see attitude but that some see the U.S. forces as the only thing preventing complete chaos in Iraq. Hassan, who asked that his full name not be used, said that if the U.S. “retreat and leave everything to the Iraqis, at that time the civil war in Iraq will start.”
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