With all the negative comments about the surge working or not working in Iraq and the childish, and hate filled comments and ads about the Commander of the Troops in Iraq or "progress" in Iraq beng not made I wondered, what would be acceptable by most people as progress? What would have to happen in order for most people to say that things are "better" in Iraq than they have been? Not withstanding a retreat or why we went in the first place.
I think most people would say that violence would have to be down. But then I thought it is, so that can't be it. But then I thought maybe if they based it on infrastructure inprovements then that might be it. But then I remembered infrastructure has improved greatly, so I guess that can't be it. Fewer US or no US Deaths? I am not sure that could happen, it hasn't happened in the US itself, hard to think of somewhere else being "safer" than the US. So just exactly what is it that would trgger most people to say "I guess things are getting better in Iraq." ??
Here are just a few (only Sept.) of the News Headlines (with links) incase you might feel the urge to read some news about progress in Iraq;
| Sunday, 23 September 2007 |
10 terrorists killed, 22 suspects detained during operations targeting al-Qaeda |
| Saturday, 22 September 2007 |
Eight terrorists killed, 25 suspected terrorists detained in Coalition raids |
| Friday, 21 September 2007 |
One terrorist killed, eight suspected terrorists detained |
| Thursday, 20 September 2007 |
Seven terrorists killed, eight captured in Coalition operations |
| Wednesday, 19 September 2007 |
Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader killed |
| Tuesday, 18 September 2007 |
Three terrorists killed, 13 al-Qaeda suspects detained in Tigris River Valley |
| Monday, 17 September 2007 |
7 terrorists killed, 31 suspects detained in Coalition operations |
| Sunday, 16 September 2007 |
Eight terrorists killed, seven suspects detained |
| Saturday, 15 September 2007 |
14 terrorists killed, 17 detained in Coalition operations |
| Friday, 14 September 2007 |
Shi’a extremist leader killed, one insurgent detained |
| Friday, 14 September 2007 |
Coalition forces target foreign terrorist facilitators; 5 killed, 21 detained |
| Thursday, 13 September 2007 |
Sheik in Anbar killed in attack |
| Thursday, 13 September 2007 |
Five terrorists killed, 11 suspects detained in Coalition operations |
| Wednesday, 12 September 2007 |
One terrorist killed, 13 suspects detained as Coalition targets al-Qaeda in Iraq |
| Tuesday, 11 September 2007 |
Eight terrorists killed, 15 suspects detained in northern Iraq |
| Tuesday, 11 September 2007 |
Coalition forces advance Baghdad security, six terrorists killed, five detained |
| Monday, 10 September 2007 |
Vehicle accident, seven MND-B Soldiers killed, 11 |
| Sunday, 09 September 2007 |
Six terrorists killed during raids in Tarmiyah |
| Friday, 07 September 2007 |
Three terrorists killed, 18 suspects detained in Coalition raids |
| Thursday, 06 September 2007 |
Six terrorists killed, 25 suspects detained, al-Qaeda network disrupted |
| Wednesday, 05 September 2007 |
Al-Qaeda leader killed, 18 suspected terrorists detained |
| Sunday, 02 September 2007 |
14 terrorists killed, 6 suspects detained near Muqdadiyah |
| Saturday, 01 September 2007 |
3 terrorists killed, 5 suspected detained during operations targeting al-Qaeda |
| Saturday, 01 September 2007 |
Coalition targets al-Qaeda in Baghdad and northern belts: 4 killed, 10 detained |
Now I know that many may not classify the above as "progress" but I beg to differ. Any time a terrorist is killed or captured, its progress.
Infrastructure projects and other improvements can be found here: http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/news/releases/index.asp
So just what do the military and others have to do to make people say progress is being made?