And This Is Progress?

Last night I read a rather disturbing AP report.

Iraqi civilian deaths dropped to their lowest level since the start of the Baghdad security operation, government figures showed Sunday, suggesting signs of progress in tamping down violence in the capital.

But American casualties are running high as U.S. forces step up pressure on Sunni and Shiite extremists in and around Baghdad.

At least 1,227 Iraqi civilians were killed in June along with 190 policemen and 31 soldiers, an officer at the Iraqi Interior Ministry's operations room said. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the figures.

That represented a 36 percent drop from the ministry's May figures - 1,949 civilian deaths along with 127 policemen and 47 soldiers. [Emphasis added]

Now, even assuming that the figures are accurate, and that's a dicey assumption, that means 1,448 people were slaughtered in Iraq. According to the breakdown, those people were not insurgents or terrorists: they were citizens, and police, and soldiers. Yes, fewer died last month than the month before, but I don't find that particularly cheerful news.

Neither do the Iraqis.

On Sunday, the country's largest Sunni Arab political group, the Iraqi Islamic Party, said more than 350 people have been killed in western Baqouba, capital of Diyala province, since the offensive began there last month.

The statement, which said that some 150 homes have been destroyed, called "the Iraqi government and occupation forces to stop this massacre and differentiate between gunmen and innocent civilians." [Emphasis added]

And the madness will continue throughout the summer and beyond unless something is done. The President has made it clear that the occupation will continue indefinitely. Congress has not shown much spine when it comes to challenging the President on the matter. Perhaps it's time for the US citizenry to make some serious noise.

Go visit Pax Americana to see just what can and should be done.