REPUBLICANS MUST BE KIDDING WHEN THEY SAY SURGE IS WORKING

The U.S. military in Iraq, especially the senior officer, Gen. David Petraeus, are claiming the surge is working, that violence is down, and even George Bush is implying this is taking place all over Iraq. The Republicans contending for their presidential nomination are naturally parroting this unfounded assertion. For example, this was the exchange last night at the Republican presidential debate, according to Dan Balz and Michael D. Shear in today's The Washington Post:

'When Romney said he believed the troop buildup in Iraq was "apparently working," McCain jumped him. "Governor, the surge is working. The surge is working, sir."

"That's just what I said," Romney responded.

'"No, not 'apparently.' It's working," McCain replied."

Yet, all of this optimism is just wishful thinking of children wanting to believe in the tooth fairy. Consider the AP's report by David Rising in today's papers on the attack last night by U.S. helicopters on three homes last night in west Baghdad:

"After a period of relative calm, there has been an uptick in violence in recent days as President Bush prepares for a showdown in Congress over the future of the U.S. mission in Iraq.

"In eastern Baghdad, a roadside bomb targeting a U.S. patrol exploded in a neighborhood just west of the Shiite slum Sadr City.

"The bomb injured four civilians and damaged a civilian car, and U.S. troops sealed off the area, a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security reasons.

"The U.S. military confirmed the attack, and said that although there were no injuries to U.S. or Iraqi forces, one American military vehicle was damaged."

And that is not all the violence that occurred yesterday. Risen reports for the AP the following:

"Also in Baghdad, a roadside bomb exploded next to a group of construction workers in the predominantly Shiite area of Zafaraniyah, killing one and injuring five, police said.

"Authorities made the grisly discovery of five bodies _ two in Baghdad's southern Dora area and three in the western Amil area _ all blindfolded and shot with their hands bound, police said.

"In Tikrit, 80 miles north of Baghdad, a car bomb near a gas station killed two civilians and wounded 14 others, police said. Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew after the bombing.

"The violence comes the week before U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus report to Congress about progress since the United States sent nearly 30,000 more troops to Iraq."

So how in the world can anyone say the surge is working? How can Petraeus report to Bush that violence is down 75%? How can Bush argue the U.S. needs more time to continue a successful strategy? How can McCain be so sure that peace is coming to Iraq? How can Mitt Romney say the strategy is apparently working?

All the evidence all the news reports indicate that the surge is not working, that bloody violence still plagues Iraq, whether caused by Sunnis, Shiites or U.S. forces.