[blaquebyrd]

"There will be several more days like this until the January 30th elections change all of this and bring a legitimate government to pass in Iraq."

Why does everyone from the President on down believe that these attacks will magically stop after January 30th? Do we actually believe that the insurgents will stop fighting because of an election? Let's review all of the previous goalposts, the post invasion phase, end of major conflict, "NEGOTIATIONS" with Al Sadr (who is unbelievably on the Jan 30 ballot), Bremer pre-dawn swap-out, and lastly Fallujah. Attacks increased after all of these goal posts so why does our government believe that once we reach 30 January the insurgents will fade away?

[demlosers]

Why does everyone from the President on down believe that these attacks will magically stop after January 30th?

The President does not believe that. After taking Fallujah, the level of violence in Iraq has dropped, which I read cited about 60%. The violence level has dropped so you can have elections. These attacks are all isolated incidents were Iraqi elections can take place, which the terrorists won't be able to stop.

[section9]

You're point is actually well taken. They won't. However, once an elected government is in place, it has a legitimacy all its own AND the political dynamic changes. That's what Z and the Ba'ath are fighting against. But over time, as that government strengthens, as its currency hardens, as jobs grow, as more oil is pumped, and as Americans recede into the memory of Iraqis, Zarqawi's movement will begin to fail. That is why they are fighting so hard.

Be Seeing You,

Chris