That's been obvious for some time but it took an official stating it for the media to stop pimping "violence is less, violence is less." We're sure after the shock wears off it will read: "Violence is up . . . but nowhere near the levels of 2006 and 2007 so it's a win! It's a win!"
It's really amazing how many 'facts' appear to be less about reality and more about vested desires. Roy Gutman's babbles about how the US military must stay has disgraced McClatchy Newspapers and made any Iraqi report with his byline questionable.
But he's not the only one struggling with facts.
How many are honest about Political Stalemate II? Political Stalemate I started after the March 7, 2010 elections. For nine months after, Nouri dug in his heels, refused to allow the winners of the election (Iraqiya) to form a government. It ended only when the political blocs (and the US) met up and agreed to the Erbil Agreement. The agreement said: Nouri gets to remain prime minister, we create a new independent security body and Iraqiya's Ayad Allawi heads that, etc. No sooner was Nouri named prime minister-designate than he began ignoring the Erbil Agreement. This happened immediately. The first meeting of Parliament. And some members of Iraqiya walked out when the new security body was said to be on hold.
After being named prime minister-designate, Nouri had 30 days to form a Cabinet. He couldn't do it. Even with them fudging it by saying that Jalal Talabani hadn't 'officially' named him prime minister-designate yet to buy him a few extra days. Per the Constitution, Nouri's inability to name a full Cabinet meant that he wasn't supposed to move on to prime minister and a new person would be named prime minister-designate. But the Constitution wasn't followed.
Violence, if you've already forgotten the way this started, has been increasing in Iraq. And they have no heads of the security ministries. Nouri couldn't appoint anyone. He appointed himself as a temp. And he's done a lousy job with security. This is Political Stalemate II. Where Iraqiya feels less and less vested in the government due to broken promises. Where Nouri still can't name a head of the Ministry of Interior, of the Ministry of Defense, of the Ministry of National Security.
Even as the violence increases.
And the White House keeps proclaiming 'success' in Iraq.
A lot of lies were required to start the Iraq War, even more lies are required to continue it.