[antimedia] antimedia: Another Iraq Index report has been released....

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Posted by antimedia:
Another Iraq Index report has been released....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1144379289.shtml


   ....and the results are interesting, as always.
     * March saw another drop in US fatalities, the fifth month in a row
       with lower fatality rates (and raw numbers) from hostile action.
     * The rate of fatalities (and total number) for March was the second
       lowest since entering Iraq.
     * IEDs continue to be the number one hostile action cause of death
     * The US wounded in action numbers have risen for the past three
       months. (This either indicates better protection and force
       doctrine or a less efficient enemy, or both.)
     * Iraqi military and police fatalities rose in March, equaling the
       number in December and 2/3^rds of the highest number ever.
     * The total number of car bombs dropped to the lowest number since
       the relative tranquility of mid-2003.
     * Iraqi civilian fatalities dropped to less than half what they were
       in January.[1]
     * Multiple fatality bombings dropped dramatically, to less than 15%
       of what they were in January.
     * Civilian contractor deaths have dropped dramatically, from 11 in
       December to just one for each of the past three months.
     * Non-Iraqi civilian deaths have also plummeted, to just one in
       March.
     * No foreigners were kidnapped in March, the first time since last
       June that not even one has been kidnapped.
     * "Insurgent" deaths have remained steady, at 2000 killed per month,
       for the past five months.
     * Saudi Arabia has been displaced by Algeria, Syria, Yemen, Sudan
       and Egypt as the number one through five suppliers of foreign
       fighters in Iraq. (Saudi Arabia dropped to sixth.)
     * US troop strength in Iraq has dropped from a high of 160,000 in
       December to 133,000 last month.
     * Attacks on Iraqi oil and gas pipelines dropped again in March, the
       third straight decrease in a row.
     * Oddly, the number of insurgent attacks has been steady for the
       past three months, indicating that their effectiveness has been
       seriously eroded.
     * Total Iraqi security forces strength rose to almost 242,000.
     * More than half the Iraqi units are now either in the lead or fully
       independent.
     * Iraq's poltical freedom index has risen above all other Middle
       Eastern nations except Israel and Lebanon.
     * Nationwide electricity generation has now surpassed pre-war
       levels.
     * Unemployment and oil and gas generation remain problem areas.
     * GDP is almost 50% higher than the pre-war level.
     * Telephone subscribers have reached 820% of pre-war levels.
     * Internet subscribers have reached 3268% of pre-war levels.

     [1]It is still unclear how many civilians were killed in the
     outburst of sectarian violence directly related to the destruction
     of the Askariya mosque in Samarra on February 22, 2006. Estimates
     range from 220 (the number of confirmed deaths according to the US
     military on March 1st) to 1,300 (early estimates according to
     morgue workers). Most estimates lie in the high 300s, but some
     officials believe the final tally could reach 550.^11

   Commentary -- Interesting numbers. My first reaction is, the numbers
   are completely opposite what the media has been reporting (including
   many of the Iraqi blogs.) It seems the attitude in Iraq doesn't match
   the reality in Iraq. If these trends continue, and the poltiicans
   finally get their acts together, expect to see a turnaround in Iraqi
   public opinion as well. In my judgment the "insurgency" has one last
   chance to make a big splash. If they don't do it soon, it's over.