There is one problem with those numbers, by the way: the entire death toll due to violence in Iraq is indeed low compared to some of America's biggest cities, but, if the entirety of the United States had a death toll from violence that looked like what our worst cities look like, this would be a staggeringly violent nation. People living in hot zones like Baghdad really are putting up with some terrible violence.
True enough. Which is why our job isn't done there yet.
But I think there is this much validity to the comparison to American cities: if we're not ready to give up on D.C. and Detroit and Baltimore and withdraw from them, then this level of violence is something we find tolerable in at least some circumstances; so a much lower level of violence in Iraq is not by itself the hallmark of failure that some would like it to be. War opponents like to cite certain "trump cards" that they think are irrefutable proof, when those "trump cards" don't look so bad in comparison to other situations. One such "trump card" is the level of violence in Iraq. Gateway's article doesn't say the violence isn't bad, it just points out how it compares to other violence.
If it's terrorizing the citizenry, then I'm confident that our man on the ground's armor, advanced programming, and Cobra Assault cannon will provide sufficient tactical advantage for him to neutralize the ED-209.
If however, the Omni Consumer Products ED-209 is fulfilling a law enforcement role, then I believe the best solution would be a partitioning of Detroit. The auto unionists can have the east, the street gangs the north, and the Pistons fans the west, though I suspect that giving the Pistons fans a home land may anger the Ann Arborists who have long had a festering Pistons fans separation movement and with a Pistons fan enclave created, they may seize upon this opportunity to secede and join their brethren.
Of course this partitioning plan is complicated by the numerous external meddling influences like the Miami Heat.
For adminsitrative purposes, the the ED-209's can take the street gang enclave, our guy will take the Pistons enclave (he sets a mean pick and I bet he'll actually join the team huddle during time outs), and Goliaths can patrol the auto unionists zone.
True enough. Which is why our job isn't done there yet.
But I think there is this much validity to the comparison to American cities: if we're not ready to give up on D.C. and Detroit and Baltimore and withdraw from them, then this level of violence is something we find tolerable in at least some circumstances; so a much lower level of violence in Iraq is not by itself the hallmark of failure that some would like it to be. War opponents like to cite certain "trump cards" that they think are irrefutable proof, when those "trump cards" don't look so bad in comparison to other situations. One such "trump card" is the level of violence in Iraq. Gateway's article doesn't say the violence isn't bad, it just points out how it compares to other violence.
what if ED-209 shows up????
If it's terrorizing the citizenry, then I'm confident that our man on the ground's armor, advanced programming, and Cobra Assault cannon will provide sufficient tactical advantage for him to neutralize the ED-209.
If however, the Omni Consumer Products ED-209 is fulfilling a law enforcement role, then I believe the best solution would be a partitioning of Detroit. The auto unionists can have the east, the street gangs the north, and the Pistons fans the west, though I suspect that giving the Pistons fans a home land may anger the Ann Arborists who have long had a festering Pistons fans separation movement and with a Pistons fan enclave created, they may seize upon this opportunity to secede and join their brethren.
Of course this partitioning plan is complicated by the numerous external meddling influences like the Miami Heat.
For adminsitrative purposes, the the ED-209's can take the street gang enclave, our guy will take the Pistons enclave (he sets a mean pick and I bet he'll actually join the team huddle during time outs), and Goliaths can patrol the auto unionists zone.