The NY Times was given a one-page assessment by the military as to the current state of the surge. It's not good.
The military feels that only 146 of 457 neighborhoods in Baghdad are really protected. In one sector the number of bodies has tripled since the surge began, although there are three times as many soldiers patrolling now as there were previously. In this same sector Shia are working hard to expel Sunnis. Two of the three gas stations in the area refuse to sell to Sunnis. Trash trucks entering Sunni areas have been attacked. Sunni homes have been set on fire. The local police commander has been replaced three times because of suspect collusion.
The basic problem appears to be an optimistic opinion as to how helpful the Iraqi military and police would be. They have not been very helpful. In some cases, particularly with the police, they appear to be helping the insurgents.
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