Bush marketed the surge as an attempt to bring security to Baghdad by going after Shiite militias and Sunni insurgent groups. What we have seen since Bush announced the surge is a high casualty rate among US soldiers. Over 200 U.S. soldiers have been killed already this year since January 1. Most of those deaths have occurred after Bush announced the surge. The total of 80 deaths in February is the highest ever recorded for that month in this 4 year long war. More soldiers deployed in Iraq = more deaths.
The Administration has been attempting to market and sell (with the help of the AP and Brian Williams) the notion that the surge has produced early results in Sadr City and in the other areas where the US has sent patrols. This is terribly misleading. First, the violence continues to rage just a few kilometers away from where US troops patrol. This shows the limitations of military power to subdue an entire country. In short, the insurgents and militas go 'where we ain't', fully confident that they will reclaim their turf in a matter of weesk when the US shifts focus. The surge proves the futility of military power in a country rife with sectarian violence and civil war.
Second, the US is meeting no resistance in Sadr City because Sadr has been cooperating with the Americans as part of an agreement with Maliki. Bush isn't fighting these militas, he's formed a temporary alliance with them to keep things quiet. Despite temporary cooperation from the Mahdi Army, the US has made no headway in subduing the Sunni insurgents, who have given no ground whatsoever.
Finally, we hear through the news wires that Sadr has now declared to his people that they should resist the occupation of Sadr City by the US military. There have been demostrations in Sadr City already, and one can assume that armed resistance will follow soon. The myth of relative calm is likely to dissipate. If the US military responds with overwhelming force, the Iraqi government will likely protest the killing of innocents and the destruction of Shiite neighborhoods and will put the brakes on the whole operation. In short, this surge is going nowhere.
The GOP is obstructing Democratic attempts to change the direction of the war in order to buy time for Petreaus' strategy to have an impact. However, if we continue to pressure the GOP and wavering Democrats that the surge is in fact not producing any real change, that tacit support for Bush's policy will collapse by the end of the summer. We need to continue to write to Democratic politicians, the news media (especially AP) and also GOP members of Congress to push this war to a conclusion. All the facts and the will of the people are on our side. However, the GOP won't give in unless we show that we are willing to pressure them without fear of political consequence.
http://www.icasualties.org
http://news.yahoo.com/...