Is worst yet to come in Iraq?

Senior Bush official says insurgents likely to step up attacks as terrorists try to derail constitution, elections

BY TIMOTHY M. PHELPS AND KATIE THOMAS
STAFF WRITERS; Phelps is Washington bureau chief. The story was supplemen- ted with wire service reports.

June 17, 2005

WASHINGTON -- During a terrible week for violence in Iraq, a senior administration official yesterday warned that the worst is yet to come.

Five Marines and a sailor were killed Wednesday in attacks west of Baghdad, the U.S. military announced yesterday, a day that also brought news of a suicide bomber in Baghdad who killed at least eight police officers and wounded 25 others.

"I think you'll see it continuing up, because the terrorists know what's coming," said the official, speaking as peace demonstrators chanted outside the White House.

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The official spoke after one of the bloodiest weeks in the war, in which at least 17 U.S. servicemen and 155 Iraqis have been reported killed.

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Now, in addition to Gallup and Washington Post/ABC News polls showing a decrease in public support for the war, there are signs of restlessness on Capitol Hill as well. Yesterday, four U.S. lawmakers, including two Republicans from the South, announced they would introduce legislation requiring President George W. Bush to submit a timetable for a U.S. pullout.

The senior official yesterday rejected any deadlines, saying they would either increase attacks or give the insurgents reason to wait for the pullout.

He said the administration remains convinced that its strategy is working, with progress on the political front as well as in training and equipping Iraqi soldiers to take over the fight themselves.

"There is a timeline, and we're still on it," he said.

But he came back to the new, realistic tone about Iraq.

"Nobody denies the loss of life and the carnage that is being wreaked on the Iraqi people and on us by the terrorists," he said.

Time to get out! The Iraqi troups will never be as effective as U.S. troups no matter how many. The Iraqi leaders are in fighting on how the country should be lead! And the insurgents are trying to kill everyone! As long as U.S. troups are there, Iraq will not stablize!

Semper Fi