Ah. The A (w/ t) P. Always eager to tarnish any silver lining.
Violence in Iraq is at its lowest level in four years, but ask Capt. Mike Forbes, and he will tell you his job as a troop commander in Baghdad has gotten harder, not easier.
"The hotter an area is, the simpler," said Forbes. "You just go find the bad guys and kill them."
"A quiet environment doesn't necessarily mean a less challenging one. It just gets more complicated," said a boyish but weary looking Forbes on Thursday, standing inside the small patrol base in Mansour that houses 30 members of B Troop, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment.
Despite the challenges, Forbes remains optimistic that he can help the Iraqis rebuild their lives in his corner of Baghdad. Working with local officials to get small projects completed is starting to pay off, he said.
"They now have solar powered street lights in Mansour," he said. "A year ago, they didn't even have street lights."
Solar powered? Ooooo. That should get the defeat-o-crats salivating.
Note to AP staff: How about this for a headline? Iraq violence at 4 year low; Rebuilding efforts optimistic.
There. That wasn't so hard.... was it.
