Iraq violence blunts US claims

[ThoughtCriminal]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/iraq-violence-blunts-us-claims/2007/03/18/1174152881623.html
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"FOUR years after the US-led invasion of Iraq, increasing violence is undermining assurances by new United States military commander General David Petraeus that the surge in American troop numbers in Baghdad is making an impact."
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We can always count on the usual spin - if violence is down one week, the Administration will point to it as evidence of progress. If violence is up, they will claim it as evidence that the insurgents are getting desperate...

[rodeodance]

Mr Howard says great progress but work needs to be done

Mr Howard will use a major speech in Canberra on Wednesday to insist that the use of military force remains essential to building Iraq's democracy — and that it is still too early to scale down Australia's commitment.

At a joint news conference in Baghdad, Mr Maliki urged Mr Howard to keep Australian troops in Iraq's south as long as necessary.

Mr Howard said great progress was being achieved but there was still work to be done.

"I don't set speculative dates. There is nothing to be achieved by that," he said of a troop withdrawal.

Shocking images of women and children suffering after bomb attacks provided a bleak backdrop to the Prime Minister's visit and the fourth anniversary of the invasion.
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[rodeodance]

1. Mr Howard says great progress but work needs to be done

Mr Howard will use a major speech in Canberra on Wednesday to insist that the use of military force remains essential to building Iraq's democracy — and that it is still too early to scale down Australia's commitment.

At a joint news conference in Baghdad, Mr Maliki urged Mr Howard to keep Australian troops in Iraq's south as long as necessary.

Mr Howard said great progress was being achieved but there was still work to be done.

"I don't set speculative dates. There is nothing to be achieved by that," he said of a troop withdrawal.

Shocking images of women and children suffering after bomb attacks provided a bleak backdrop to the Prime Minister's visit and the fourth anniversary of the invasion.
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