The "Surge" Isn't Working, So We're Going To Surge Again

Pentagon: Iraqi violence still rising

By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
34 minutes ago
June 14, 2007

WASHINGTON - Violence in Iraq, as measured by casualties among troops and civilians, has edged higher despite the U.S.-led security push in Baghdad, the Pentagon told Congress on Wednesday.

In its required quarterly report on security, political and economic developments in Iraq, covering the February-May period, the Pentagon also raised questions about Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ability to fulfill a pledge made in January to prohibit political interference in security operations and to allow no safe havens for sectarian militias.

Overall, however, the report said it was too soon to judge whether the security crackdown was working.

But on the other hand…

Big Boost In Iraqi Forces Is Urged
A Top General Sees Years Before U.S. Ends Security Role


By Walter Pincus and Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 13, 2007; Page A01

A senior U.S. military commander said yesterday that Iraq's army must expand its rolls by at least 20,000 more soldiers than Washington had anticipated, to help free U.S. troops from conducting daily patrols, checkpoints and other critical yet dangerous missions.

Even then, Iraq will remain incapable of taking full responsibility for its security for many years -- five years in the case of protecting its airspace -- and will require a long-term military relationship with the United States, said Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, who until recently led the U.S. military's training effort in Iraq…

…His projection of the size of the police force required to help bring stability -- 195,000 -- is more than 40 percent higher than Washington estimated in 2003. The remarks follow other blunt comments by U.S. military commanders that civilian deaths and attacks on U.S. troops have recently risen and that particularly tough fighting is expected in the coming months…

This, of course, is not counting the troops we’re going to need to raise to invade Iran—if the Republicans get back in next year. If you've got teenage kids, make sure their paperwork in order.