U.S.: Iraq Violence Widening

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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/29/eveningnews/main646438.shtml

 

U.S.: Iraq Violence Widening

 

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2004

 

(CBS) U.S. officials concede they are not defeating or even containing

an insurgency that goes deeper than the daily attacks and kidnappings

seen on television, reports CBS News National Security Correspondent

David Martin.

 

The governor of Al-Anbar province in western Iraq has warned the U.S.

that threats against local officials and their families have brought

his government to the verge of collapse.

 

And it goes wider than the so-called Sunni triangle around Baghdad. A

recent report prepared for the State Department by a private security

firm says " a general trend is emerging of attacks spreading into

historically less active areas. "

 

Scott Taylor, a Canadian journalist who survived five days as a

hostage around the northern city of Mosul says the area is honeycombed

with Mujahadeen willing to die.

 

" I think that Mosul is probably about to explode in terms of the

resistance which has been fairly dormant up until now in that

particular area, " Taylor said.

 

If the insurgency continues to get worse, officials say, that could

undermine public support for the war.

 

They insist they have a plan for taking control of most of the country

in time for nationwide elections scheduled for January.

 

Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi and U.S. commanders have agreed on a

military campaign plan to root the insurgents out of 16 cities --

sending American troops in first followed by Iraqi forces.

 

The campaign would begin with small cities and work up to major rebel

strongholds such as Fallujah, depending on how well Iraqi forces perform.

 

That's the plan, and the Iraqi defense minister was quoted today as

saying the campaign will begin next month. No one is willing to

predict success since so much depends on untested Iraqi troops, but

every one agrees the next three months could be decisive.

 

CBS News Correspondent Barry Petersen reports the seeping violence has

forced some Iraqis to flee, though reluctantly.

 

It's not just the car bombs that strike without warning, kill without

discrimination. It's the daily frustrations -- a tank of gas can mean

hours in line. Garbage rots on many streets. Standing water is a

breeding ground for disease.

 

To get out of Iraq requires passports and papers, but there's never a

shortage of the desperate braving the heat and long lines for their

chance to escape.

 

No one knows for sure how many have already fled the country –

certainly in the tens of thousands. There are many thousands more who

dream of making the exodus to almost anywhere that is safer than this

place.

 

Saad Yousef runs a DVD shop and said he's given up hope the Americans

will bring security. His dream is to move to the one place the

Americans have made safe -- America.

 

He told Petersen every time he hears the bombs go off, he thinks to

himself " Time to go, time to leave. "

 

" Nobody want to leave their country, but this is my destiny. It's very

dangerous for us, " Sammer Abdul Amir, a mother, told Petersen. " I hope

to find in another country a peace and security. "

 

©MMIV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. .