Editorial: Statements versus reality

Friday, Sept. 1, 2006 | 7:17 a.m.

Words that contradict the facts are a major reason Americans are disillusioned about the war in Iraq. The war was started for reasons that proved false. And as the war has dragged on, the Bush administration has trumpeted themes of progress, hope and victory despite Iraq's steady descent into civil war and daily mass murder.

The past seven days have provided an example that reflects the whole course of the war.

On Wednesday, Army Gen. George Casey, commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, said he sees "Iraqi security forces progressing to a point where they can take on the security responsibilities for the country, with very little coalition support" within 12 to 18 months.

But let's look at what happened in the days before, the day of and the days after his reassuring remark.

Last Friday brought news that about 100 Iraqi Shiite solders refused an order to move with their unit to Baghdad. A U.S. brigadier general said this is a problem throughout the Iraqi forces, as many soldiers believe they were recruited to protect their regional area, not the whole country.

On Saturday and Sunday multiple attacks around the country killed dozens, including nine U.S. soldiers, despite appeals from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for an end to sectarian fighting.

On Sunday night and Monday, clashes and a suicide bombing killed dozens more people. On Tuesday, Baghdad police found the bound bodies of 37 people who had been shot and tortured, and dozens of Iraqis were reported killed in other parts of the country. Wednesday and Thursday brought more news of deadly violence.

More than 200 Iraqis have been killed in terrorist bombings, sectarian fighting and clashes between coalition forces and various militias just since Saturday. And 14 U.S. soldiers and Marines were killed during that time.

Does Bush's "stay the course" policy include a plan to stop this bloodshed and unify the country? If there is one, most Americans don't see it, and that is why it is difficult to put much faith in optimistic statements such as Casey's.