Surge Fizzles in Iraq

Troop buildup fails to curb violence
By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 14, 2007 11:45 AM CDT
Surge Fizzles in Iraq
A US helicopter gunner is silhouetted as he looks over deserted streets in central Baghdad, Thursday, June 14, 2007, as the Iraqi government imposed a curfew in response to the second bombing of a Shiite holy shrine Askariya or Golden Dome in Samarra Wednesday. Wednesday's attack on the Askariya shrine...   (Associated Press)

A new report shows no overall drop in bloodshed in Iraq despite the three-month-old troop surge. Violence has fallen slightly in Baghdad and Anbar province, where troops are concentrated, but a corresponding rise everywhere else more than compensates. And while sectarian killings have dropped slightly, civilian casualties are up, and suicide attacks have almost doubled.

The release of the report coincides with fears that violence will spiral uncontrollably after yesterday's bombing of the Al-Askariya Mosque. Congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid sent a letter to the president yesterday pleading that the surge had failed, and urging him to begin bringing troops home. (More Iraq stories.)

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