A British TV report (I believe it is BBC 4) has a lengthy video reviewing the growing violence in Iraq and American presence there. The first half of the report shows the American "trainers" simply watching and commenting as an Iraqi patrol (Shia) pulls over a car and beats the three (Sunni) occupants. The troops clearly don't think the incident is being taped by the journalists but of course it is.
Typical of country with real media the report goes on to comment on the violence that pervades the country and the difficulties faces the incoming US troops. The US troops seem utterly disengaged, hopelessly naive and utterly ineffectual against the violence they face. A man who has been threatened with death complains and shows the letter to the troops and they give him a card with a hotline phone number on it. A young man is killed in a bakery in broad daylight and they try and investigate buts it seems obvious no one will ever be caught.
Once you see the report it is even more evident that adding troops to Baghdad seems like throwing bricks into the Grand Canyon. The Americans seem out of their element and disconnected from the outcome of the actions that take place around them.
But watch the coverage here and decide for yourself.
The video is here: http://www.youtube.com/...
=Hiredman
PS If this has been diaried already I'll remove mine - but I didn't see it.