“Militant group” gets routed from Baghdad, NYT buries the news on page 19 :: HotAir

The “militant group” in question is, in fact, al Qaeda.

American forces have routed Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the Iraqi militant network, from every neighborhood of Baghdad, a top American general said today, allowing American troops involved in the “surge” to depart as planned.

Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr., commander of United States forces in Baghdad, also said that American troops had yet to clear some 13 percent of the city, including Sadr City and several other areas controlled by Shiite militias. But, he said, “there’s just no question” that violence had declined since a spike in June.

“Murder victims are down 80 percent from where they were at the peak,” and attacks involving improvised bombs are down 70 percent, he said.

I’ve heard similar information from an Army captain who until recently was commanding a tank platoon in east Baghdad. I’m hoping to interview him next week. We won’t bury that interview.

“Militant group” gets routed from Baghdad, NYT buries the news on page 19 ...

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