U.S. Launches Biggest Air Assault On Iraq Since Invasion

Hello?

Anybody remember "major military operations in Iraq have ended"?

Anybody remember "last throes"?

Jeez.

As for the assault itself, I’m with Kevin:

A review of military data shows that daily bombing runs and jet-missile launches have increased by more than 50 percent in the past five months, compared with the same period last year. Knight Ridder’s statistical findings were reviewed and confirmed by American Air Force officials in the region.

The numbers also show that U.S. forces dropped bombs on more cities during the last five months than they did during the same period a year ago. Airstrikes hit at least 11 cities between Oct. 1, 2004, and Feb. 28, 2005….A year later, U.S. warplanes struck at least 22 cities during the same months.

Apparently our military leaders still don’t believe we’re fighting a counterinsurgency in Iraq. Either that, or they simply don’t know how so they’re using air strikes instead. Or else they’ve given up and are just trying to hold things together until they finally get the word to withdraw.

Bombs don’t beat insurgencies. The fact that we’re increasing our reliance on them is bad news.