"Pentagon: Violence in Iraq rising despite ‘surge’. Civilian, military deaths rose during first 3 months of operation, report finds."

The only way this could be viewed as any sort of 'success' is if the US were waging a war of attrition. And if it were a war of attrition, 4+ years of war waged by the mightiest military power in the world against a ragtag bunch of third-world hicks would have resulted in a lessening of violence.

It's a guerilla war being fought by a military power only able to fight main force, set piece battles. When fired upon it shoots indiscriminately, as if there were a 'line', on the other side of which is the 'enemy'. As in main force, set piece. WWI, WWII, Korea. Wars in which the sorts of stuff which enrichs the military-industrial complex worked. That time is past.

Now, the "hope". Been "hoping" for years.

"4 months into crackdown, security eludes Iraq. U.S. holds hope in Baghdad operation, even though violence is more acute."

And the September round of BS is starting from the political generals. "Petraeus says security crackdown working." That such syncophants are commanding American men and women in harm's way is a crime.

Bush,the US, Iraq, the Middle East, and humanity isn't winning. Can't win. Has lost.

Arf