Bombings expose instability

Bombings expose instability

Kansas City Star: The five car-bombs that killed 127 people and wounded hundreds more in Baghdad last week made two aspects of the continuing mission in Iraq very clear:

UThe country is not yet stable. Iraqi security forces have taken on all responsibility for security in their own nation, but they’re not yet quite ready to handle this job.

UU.S. troops, of whom 120,000 are still on the ground in a training, advisory and backup role, are still needed. But, thankfully, they do not appear to be under nearly as much threat as in recent years.

Since U.S. troops pulled back in June, 17 Americans have been killed by hostile action. While each of those lost lives is a tragedy, together they represent a low point for U.S. deaths inside Iraq. In October and November, despite several large-scale attacks against Iraqi citizens, a total of four U.S. service personnel died from enemy fire. Thus far in December, no Americans have been killed in Iraq.

Work yet to be done

The American military has made huge strides in improving security and preparing Iraqi forces to continue that progress when it leaves. But this week’s brutal attacks, for which al-Qaida has claimed responsibility, make it clear that job is not finished.

As Egypt’s al-Ahram newspaper noted Thursday, “Everyone must know that the U.S. will not withdraw as long as Iraqi forces are incapable of protecting the country.”

To make a good exit, the United States will need more patience. The good news, in this new and vital role, is that, for our troops, the cost in blood is decreasing.