We all knew this would happen -- needed to happen -- eventually. Still, the recent rise in violence causes me concern that the "forces of evil" will move into high gear now that they have only the Iraqi security forces to deal with in the cities. Yes, U.S. forces remain in numbers and not too far that they couldn't be called to assist. But, I see the Obama Administration as committed to this withdraw of forces, and having to keep calling American soldiers in to back-up the Iraqis doesn't play well into that plan.
I would not be surprised to see Baghdad resemble Juarez, Mexico . . with the drug cartels fighting a bloody battle vs. the Mexican police and military. In Baghdad, it won't be drugs they are fighting over . . but in a way it is the same: Fighting for control of the city (and then from there, the country).
The average Iraqi just wants to live life in peace and not have to fear for their life or the lives of their loved ones. When someone is pointing a gun at your head, you probably don't care which side he is on, you just want to live (Perhaps similar to what I hear is the position of villagers in Afghanistan: They don't support the Taliban, but they don't support the Americans either -- they just want to be left alone to go about their lives). That leaves the bulk of the populace as the pawn between the Iraqi govt forces and the insurgent forces -- who will win?
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