Bloody Day After Thanksgiving In Iraq

Even as we finish up Thanksgiving Day leftovers, and hit the stores for "Black Friday", there is sad news from Iraq.

Two bombs exploded hours apart Friday in a central Baghdad pet market and a police checkpoint in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing 26 people and wounding dozens, officials said.

The attacks were among the deadliest in recent weeks, underscoring warnings by senior U.S. commanders that extremists still pose a threat to Iraq's fragile security despite a downturn in violence since a U.S.-Iraqi security plan began in mid-February.

The worst part of this story I believe, is the acknowledgement that no matter what we do, there will still be some violence, and when we leave will it increase again. It seems the only reason it has gone down is because of the troops "everywhere" reality, which gives insurgents less time to plan and carry out attacks, as they are running for "their" lives. Now as we begin drawing down troops, will the violence go back up to pre-surge levels or higher.

I think all we are doing is forestalling the inevitable, and the other reality is that for all of the good armed successes we have had, the Iraqi government, (not local, as they seem to be doing well), is still not doing anything to speak of, except agreeing to an oil revenue sharing plan, and that is still not complete. So let's call it a win and come home, if we did and used all available boats and planes for evacuation, we could have everyone out in less than a month. This is a very difficult issue, because it would be nice if it could work out well for everyone, but it doesn't seem like it will, and that is sad for our troops and the Iraqi people. Our condolences to the Iraqi's and their families who lost loved ones.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving weekend.


bloody