SURGE IN ATTACKS IN IRAQ WORRISOME TO U.S. COMMANDERS

There is a "surge" going on in IRAQ, but it is not the kind of "surge" the mainstream media has been reporting on over the past six months.

There has been an uptick in violence in IRAQ and especially BAGHDAD and the U.S. military is very worried that everything could unravel again.

Surge in attacks in Iraq worrisome for U.S.

An increase in violence in Iraq as the U.S. prepares to withdraw most troops over the next 19 months raises concern among military commanders.

BY NANCY A. YOUSSEF AND SAHAR ISSA
McClatchy News Service

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/story/943515.html

WASHINGTON -- As the U.S. military begins to shift its focus to a new battle against extremists in Afghanistan, a recent spike in violence in Iraq has some military commanders worried that their Afghan strategy could falter because they may need to keep a large force in Iraq to prevent a resurgence of the violence there.

Since this weekend, there have been at least 20 attacks, including a bombing on the outskirts of western Baghdad on Tuesday that killed at least 33 people and injured 57.

Also on Tuesday, at least four people were killed in several attacks in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Attackers have used motorcycle bombs, mortar attacks, Katyusha rockets and gunfire.

The recent increase in violence comes just as President Barack Obama announced that the United States would withdraw most of its forces over the next 19 months, saying that 12,000 of the 140,000 now there would leave by the end of this year.

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