"Petraeus has used the # of bodies dumped on Baghdad's streets as a measure of the plan's success"

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http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/17140091.htm

U.S. surge fails to stem Baghdad violence, general says
By Nancy A. Youssef
McClatchy Newspapers



WASHINGTON - Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander in Iraq, said Thursday that the surge of U.S. and Iraqi troops into Baghdad hadn't reduced overall violence in the country and that the situation was "exceedingly complex."

The newly named commander echoed the warnings of those who'd preceded him, saying things could get worse before they get better. He spoke of threats emanating from Syria and Iran but said that al-Qaida, which has taken responsibility for a spate of car bombings, was "probably public enemy number one."

Petraeus' sober assessment made clear that while he thinks he's making progress, Iraq is a long way from stability and will require a long-term commitment from the United States.

"The level of violence has generally been unchanged" since the troop buildup began Feb. 15, Petraeus said at the Pentagon. Throughout the country, "there was a dip for a while. It was coming down and (then there were) these sensational attacks of the past couple of weeks."

The four-star general's comments came in the midst of a showdown between President Bush and the Democratic-controlled Congress over war funding. Despite Petraeus' presence at the White House and on Capitol Hill this week, the Senate voted 51-46 Thursday to continue funding provided that U.S. troops begin withdrawing from Iraq on Oct. 1. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill Wednesday. Bush has vowed to veto any legislation that contains a withdrawal timetable.

Throughout the "surge," Petraeus has used the number of bodies dumped on Baghdad's streets as a measure of the plan's success. For well over a year, armed Sunni and Shiite Muslim groups have been killing residents of the other sect in a tit-for-tat battle in Baghdad's neighborhoods. Although those killings have declined in recent weeks, the number of car bombings has remained steady, McClatchy reported Wednesday.

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