At a glance: what the “surge” means
Ten-point guide to what the increase of US troops in Iraq has meant in practice:
- 70% of Iraqis believe security is now worse than before the surge.
- There has been no reduction in civilian deaths.
- Food rations have been cut by 35%.
- There are fewer doctors and nurses.
- There has been a sharp rise in Iraqis fleeing Iraq.
- The US is partitioning Baghdad along sectarian lines.
- The US is arming future militias.
- The country is awash with US-supplied weapons.
- The UN says Iraq’s crisis is worse than Darfur.
- The situation is a bloody stalemate.
