The chaos that has overtaken Iraq is now threatening hopes among the US and its allies that they might be able to start significant troop withdrawals in the coming months.
The commander of Australian forces in the Middle East claims coalition troops are turning the tables on al-Qa’ida in Iraq, with the ability of insurgents to mount effective attacks steadily diminishing.
This commander must have received his talking points from the US top military man, General Peter Pace, who said last weekend about the situation in Iraq:
“I’d say they’re going well. I wouldn’t put a great big smiley face on it, but I would say they’re going very, very well”¦”
It must be comforting spouting US propaganda.