The Surge is working???????

Question

This is using the DOD's own numbers.

3901 Brave American Troops have died in Iraq as of today. "12 -29-07"
898 Brave American Troops have died in Iraq this year. The year is not over but we have set the record for troop deaths in a year. We have 3 days left so according to averages it will be 900 Brave Men and Women dead this year in Iraq.
Civilian deaths have gone from 8.5 per day in 2006 to 14 a day 2007 from IED's

So my question is... The Surge is working?

It amazes me how people can look at the numbers and say things are better??? More dead Americans, More dead Civilians, More car bombs... More IED attacks.

troops dieing does not surprise me, more troops dieing, then people saying that we are winning is what surprises me.

Where is the proof that the Surge is working??? Just because talking points say it is, and the media chooses not to talk about dead Americans does not mean its not working!!

Chris H... Check out the brain on that dude!!!! I am willing to bet that the people who say the surge is work have no clue who Sadar is?!?!?!

its working its working blah blah blah... Proof please?

This is not a war this is an occupation. The war ended int 2003!!!

Military Fatalities: By Month
Period US UK Other* Total Avg Days
12-2007 21 1 22 0.73 30
11-2007 37 2 1 40 1.33 30
10-2007 38 1 1 40 1.29 31
9-2007 65 2 2 69 2.3 30
8-2007 84 4 88 2.84 31
7-2007 78 8 1 87 2.81 31
6-2007 101 7 108 3.6 30
5-2007 126 3 2 131 4.23 31
4-2007 104 12 1 117 3.9 30
3-2007 81 1 82 2.65 31
2-2007 81 3 1 85 3.04 28
1-2007 83 3 86 2.77 31
12-2006 112 1 2 115 3.71 31
11-2006 70 6 2 78 2.6 30
10-2006 106 2 2 110 3.55 31
9-2006 72 3 2 77 2.57 30
8-2006 65 1 66 2.13 31
7-2006 43 1 2 46 1.48 31
6-2006 61 2 63 2.1 30
5-2006 69 9 1 79 2.55 31
4-2006 76 1 5 82 2.73 30
3-2006 31 2 33 1.06 31
2-2006 55 3 58 2.07 28
1-2006 62 2 64 2.06 31
12-2005 68 68 2.19 31
11-2005 84 1 1 86 2.87 30
10-2005 96 2 1 99 3.19 31
9-2005 49 3 52 1.73 30
8-2005 85 85 2.74 31
7-2005 54 3 1 58 1.87 31
6-2005 78 1 4 83 2.77 30
5-2005 80 2 6 88 2.84 31
4-2005 52 52 1.73 30
3-2005 35 1 3 39 1.26 31
2-2005 58 2 60 2.14 28
1-2005 10

There are many moths pre surge less troop death happened.

Answer 1

How much is of this due to the surge and how much is due to Al Sadr's 6 month truce?

Answer 2

One again Bush once again has played a bate and switch on the good people of the USA. The surge was only to provide breathing space for the political operatives get their act to together and form a government for the people and by the people, which clearly has not done. Now Bush brags the Surge is working, never addressing that a military solution was only secondary to the reason the Surge was asked for and implemented Even if the violence is down it is only a temporary measure, because once the American troops are reduced the Iraqi's are to step up to the plate and only time will tell it the deaths and cost to our government is worth Bush's war of choice. I was against the war from day one and for me the cost both in life's and treasure has already exceeded any good it will do. Your question is, "Is the Surge Working", my answer is yes, but at what cost.

Answer 3

Meta is soooo right.....the only surge is a surge of arrogance in Americans attitudes towards Iraq.

Answer 4

Who says they're brave? Just 'cause you die in your job as a hired killer doesn't make you brave. Give up on the invective will you, you're following the Bush line to 'glory'.
How many of the civilians whose lives they either destroyed or ended were brave. How many mothers who've seen their husbands dragged off to enhanced interrogation or their sons or daughters killed or seriously injured by your bombs are brave? Is bravery a condition of being a hired assasin of the USA?
There is no War. You people are guilty of an illegal occupation of a neutral country and the only surge is in you arrogance.
Saddam was a despicable dictator but you, the people of the USA, supported him while it suited you. As soon as it became important for your economy you attacked his already opressed people and now have the affrontery to call tha BRAVE? The USA should be prosecuted by the World Court for extreme violations of all agreed protocalls not only between warring nations but also in the whole issue of attacking another country who is not at war with you. You are as bad as the Nazis.

Answer 5

Yes, it's working. That is exactly why we must not back down almost 5 years into this war. Sometimes we shouldn't expect to win wars quickly. We need some commitment from Americans, like during WWII. This is a very winnable war, and if it is going to be won by the U.S., then we really should stay there for as long as it takes. NEVER BACK DOWN, our enemies sure won't. If we can set up a strong, stable democratic Iraq, we'll be kickin' the terrorists' asses!

Answer 6

General Petraeus has garnered a lot of well-deserved praise for his handling of the difficult situation he inherited in Iraq.

Even Newsweek, an overwhelmingly liberal publication, recently wrote an article praising the turn of the tide in Iraq, with the caveat that the U.S. still needs to find a graceful way to end the conflict.

Obviously war is never a good thing, but whether you support it or not, Petraeus is doing a great job.

Answer 7

Meta blames all Americans & that is so wrong! Blame our administration & the elite who duped the gullible into believing our leader into supporting this war/occupation. I was never one of them & neither were many others.

Answer 8

Its a relative question. The surge is working compared to what was happening before.
Hey you never know.. another 5 years and another trillion dollars and it might be back to the level it was before we invaded.

Answer 9

The surge was just a way of sending in extra troops like Blackwater security type mercs, and uncounted civilians contractors.....its a stop gap measure to give Halliburtons more time to build the new US embassy in Baghdad.

The $592 million facility is being built inside the heavily fortified Green Zone by 900 non-Iraqi foreign workers who are housed nearby and under the supervision of a Kuwaiti contractor, according to a Senate Foreign Relations Committee report. Construction materials have been stockpiled to avoid the dangers and delays on Iraq's roads.

"We are confident the embassy will be completed according to schedule (by June 2007) and on budget," said Justin Higgins, a State Department spokesman.

Dont you think that $592 million could have been better spent on teaching American kids to read good? maybe thats why theres so many of them in YA asking stupid questions all the time.

Answer 10

It is working. More then half of those casualties for the year came before the surge. The numbers say the surge is working and I believe them. Not only that but this year the US forces went on the offensive, that is a extremly low number for the number of operations the US has undertaken in Iraq in a year.