Iraq Roundup - 10/25/2006

Michael Yon rightfully blasts incompetency within military information channels.

Michael Fumento laments the gulf of perceptions between Green Zone-based journos and those actually chasing stories by toughing it alongside troops.

The conflict’s dynamic is in flux-
Worldwide jihadists sour on the suicide martyrdom requirements and mostly sectarian strife in Iraq and turn again to fighting the Coalition in Afghanistan. Do they think they’ll have more success against the French in Afghanistan?

A related assessment from Gen. Casey’s today:

Since the Iraqi elections in December 2005, the nature of the conflict has evolved “from what was an insurgency against us, to a struggle for the division of political and economic power among the Iraqis,” Casey said.

Casey believes more of the current violence in Iraq is aimed at dividing political power at the tribal level rather than directed at fighting the presence of US troops. This suggests a realization of perceived inevitability–the Iraqi government cannot be displaced and should likely be enjoined.

Also. . .

What happens when all attempts to bring Al-Sadr to justice fail politically and his militia is on a continual unabated show of strength?—roll out the pretense of attempted genocide. But who can tell us who the victims are? Don’t expect major media to help answer. There will be years of settling scores, after decades of targeted sectarian violence by a supposedly secular Hussein regime.

Meanwhile, Nibras Kazimi’s view on the overall picture.