Slowly but surely, life in Baghdad is improving

[unhappycamper]

Slowly but surely, life in Baghdad is improving
By James Warden, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, January 18, 2009

BAGHDAD — It’s not uncommon for patrols by the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division to be a little late returning home.

Formerly, a delayed arrival would have been an ominous sign that someone hit a roadside bomb or encountered enemy fighters. But recent delays are caused by a problem any rush-hour driver would recognize: Traffic congestion.

The increased number of Baghdad motorists lately is a reflection of how much security has improved, said Col. Joseph Martin, the combat team’s commander.

Stalled lines of cars were once a tempting target for suicide bombers and kidnappers. Driving any significant distance also meant crossing through checkpoints potentially manned by militias that were hostile to other sects. So the lines of cars on the streets, Iraqi and American officials say, mean people are no longer as afraid as they once were.

But the progress also means increased work for the soldiers. During a mission brief before a Thursday patrol, one platoon sergeant outlined multiple routes the convoy could take based on traffic. Units must allow more time to drive through Iraq, which was never a quick process to begin with.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60090

[luvspeas]

1. Ahhhh....The joys of Ethnic Cleansing

Thank baby Bejeezus and W for doing Saddam's dirty work for him.

[Joe Chi Minh]

2. With a degree of normalcy returning to the US, it seems common-sense too, not to

continue to antagonise the terrorist leaders, saving lives on both sides.