Repug Talking point -- "spike" in violence in Iraq

[Sagan]

I have noticed that the military as well as the Repugs on TV (like William Cohen with Eva Zahn yesterday)all are using the same talking point around the question of how the Hussein brothers' deaths will affect the guerilla war in Iraq.

All of them have said that there would likely be a "spike" in short-term violence but over the long term the killing of Uday and Qusay will "undoubtedly" be beneficial.

Now, I'm no genius, but it seems to me that this is a rather pathetic and predictable attempt to buy as much time as the media whores will give the misAdministration. Now they can blame our troops' deaths on this "short-term spike" while claiming everything is golden in the long term.

[EOTE]

1. Yeah, but...

I don't think people will buy a several month long spike.

[mistertrickster]

2. It's going to be the spike that gets driven in the Bush junta's heart.

EOM

[Swalker24]

3. Why don't they understand

that Saddam and his regime where despised by the Iraqi people, as are the people who helped put Saddam in power, who sponsor the Suadi Royal Family, who support the Israelis, who lead the call for the crippling sanctions against them. They don't trust America, and they do have reasons fro this lack of trust. As a result, they dislike America, and disliked Saddam (with the exception of his loyalists). The two concepts can co-exist, and do.

The only way for America to win the hearts and minds of the average Iraqi is to begin to implement an exit strategy. Bring in the UN to continue to weapons inspections, and to provide a police force in order to smooth the transition to Iraqi rule. Give a timeline for elections. And be prepared to give some form of reparations to the Iraqis to help repair the damaged infrastructure.

[markses]

4. Spike....

18-Jul
Killed:1 - Ran over "explosive device" in Fallujah (Hostile);
1 wounded: 4th ID

19-Jul
Killed: 1 - 1st Armor Div: Shot in hostile fire incident while guarding bank in Baghdad
4 wounded: 1st Armored Division, Baghdad RPG attack

20-Jul
Killed: 3 (2) - 101st Airborne: RPG convoy attack at Tel Afar (outside Mosul); (1) - vehicle rollover, Bahgdad Airport
1 wounded, Mosul attack; 2 wounded, Baghdad airport accident

21-Jul
Killed: 1 - with Iraqi interpreter - blown up in Humvee, Baghdad (hostile fire)

22-Jul
Killed: 1 - RPG Attack - Balad-Ramadi Road (Sunni Triangle)
1 wounded, same incident

23-Jul
Killed:2 (1)-Mine attack - Mosul; (1) 3rd Armored Cavalry, Hostile Fire: Ramadi
6 wounded in Mosul mine attack; 2 wounded in Ramadi attack

Trending, uh, poorly already. Of course, the point is that the admin claims of a short-term spike is a low risk procedure. If things keep on as they are, or intensify, all that falls under the presumed spike. The term "long-term" is absolutely vacant, and if things worsen, they count on people either forgetting the putative benefits of the Hussein Brothers' Last Stand, or they put the blame on some other aggravating factor, or both.

The chilling part is that their prediction of a spike is actually their hedge against what they expect to be a significant escalation of attacks and a significant increase in US casualties. One to two a day will become three to five a day before the end of August.

[bemildred]

5. They are just confused.

They don't need to convince us here in the USA.
They need to convince the Iraqi people.
Electricity, clean water, and decent jobs will work.
Not much else will. Certainly killing these two brothers
won't do much.