As Many As 5,000 More Troops Needed For Iraq

The new ongoing security situation in Iraq is going to require as many as 5,000 more U.s. soldiers beyond the 21,500 number of suge forces according to military officials. And while the security situation has improved the violence rate in Baghdad somewhat, much of the violence seems to have moved outside the main capital city to soft targets such as religious pilgrims or open air markets.

The murder rate has improved in Baghdad with the new security measure down to just 20 from the previous 500 a month ago.

And there finally appears to be a little movement in Iraqi government institutions such as the corrupt Interior Ministry to rid themselves of 10,000 undesirable members either involved in corruption or torture of prisoners or other crimes.

Iraq is still far from what it should be, and it appears that the violence problem has only been moved to the suburbs and outskirts of Baghdad for the most part. But there appears to be some measurable humanitarian benefit to the new security arrangements. The change of command for the military and the removal of Donal Rumsfeld do appear to be offering some small gains in restoring some semblence of peace and stability to Iraq. Whether this can be enough is still a big question. But any movement in the right direction is certainly welcome.