BRYAN
04-03-2005, 06:44 AM
http://www.aina.org/news/20050402193445.htm
TWO years after the huge statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in the centre of Baghdad, the tide could finally be turning against the country's insurgents.
Although the euphoria that accompanied the demolition of the statue has long since evaporated, some observers are beginning to wonder whether the insurgency in Iraq is at last running out of steam.
The US military has experienced its least deadly month for more than a year. Operations along with the newly formed Iraqi police have snared a number of leading terrorists with links to al-Qaeda and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The casualty data for March shows that 39 American and coalition troops were killed during the month - the lowest toll since February 2004.
Yesterday a car bomb exploded in Khan Bani Saad, near the city of Baqouba, killing five Iraqis, including four police officers on patrol, while gunmen killed an education official in Baghdad. But many recruits are refusing to be intimidated. Moreover, a $5bn American-financed effort has bought Iraqi units more than 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 100,000 flak jackets, 110,000 pistols, 6,000 cars and pick-up trucks, and 230 million rounds of ammunition.
No one is certain how many insurgents there are. Including foot soldiers, safe-house operators, organisers and financiers, the number is estimated at between 12,000 and 20,000 - but there is some evidence that they are under pressure.
US officials say that since the elections Iraqis have begun providing information on suspicious activities or people, encouraged by the state-run television station that broadcasts the confessions of alleged insurgents.
Michael O'Hanlon, an expert on Iraq at the Brookings Institution in Washington, says that the current mood of optimism is damaging insurgent recruitment and has turned public opinion against the militants. "There's more and more a sense that the insurgents are attacking Iraqis and Iraq itself," he says. If the insurgents continue to focus attacks on Iraqi officials, O'Hanlon added, the conflict "could become more of a civil war".
By Ian Mather
scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com
© 2005, Assyrian International News Agency
TWO years after the huge statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in the centre of Baghdad, the tide could finally be turning against the country's insurgents.
Although the euphoria that accompanied the demolition of the statue has long since evaporated, some observers are beginning to wonder whether the insurgency in Iraq is at last running out of steam.
The US military has experienced its least deadly month for more than a year. Operations along with the newly formed Iraqi police have snared a number of leading terrorists with links to al-Qaeda and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The casualty data for March shows that 39 American and coalition troops were killed during the month - the lowest toll since February 2004.
Yesterday a car bomb exploded in Khan Bani Saad, near the city of Baqouba, killing five Iraqis, including four police officers on patrol, while gunmen killed an education official in Baghdad. But many recruits are refusing to be intimidated. Moreover, a $5bn American-financed effort has bought Iraqi units more than 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 100,000 flak jackets, 110,000 pistols, 6,000 cars and pick-up trucks, and 230 million rounds of ammunition.
No one is certain how many insurgents there are. Including foot soldiers, safe-house operators, organisers and financiers, the number is estimated at between 12,000 and 20,000 - but there is some evidence that they are under pressure.
US officials say that since the elections Iraqis have begun providing information on suspicious activities or people, encouraged by the state-run television station that broadcasts the confessions of alleged insurgents.
Michael O'Hanlon, an expert on Iraq at the Brookings Institution in Washington, says that the current mood of optimism is damaging insurgent recruitment and has turned public opinion against the militants. "There's more and more a sense that the insurgents are attacking Iraqis and Iraq itself," he says. If the insurgents continue to focus attacks on Iraqi officials, O'Hanlon added, the conflict "could become more of a civil war".
By Ian Mather
scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com
© 2005, Assyrian International News Agency