U.S. Troops Launch New Iraq Offensive

What's behind this new offensive? Public relations. The administration would like to influence Congressional votes on Iraq in September. That is also when Gen. Petraeus gives his so-called report. Unfortunately, the propaganda is working. The public is buying somewhat the idea that the surge is working. Why else engage in an offensive in August? Or why have chief Neocon spokeperson, William Kristol, appearing on the comedy show, The Daily Show (video to come). They are treating this like a campaign.

Bush is feeling his oats lately after getting the Congressional Democrats to surrender to the White House on the wireless wiretap law. Incredibly, despite all the criticism and failures, the Bushies are winning. But not the war. The surge is a charade intended only for domestic political consumption. Unfortunately, there is no political leader out there able to effectively point that out. Not even the candidates running for President whom bash Bush on a daily basis:

U.S. forces launched a big offensive in Iraq's Diyala province on Tuesday as part of a major new countrywide push against Sunni and Shi'ite militants announced this week.

The military said 16,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops were involved in Operation Lightning Hammer against Sunni Arab al Qaeda militants in Diyala province, the fertile crescent of the Diyala River which flows from the north into the Tigris near Baghdad.