Overall,it says insurgent attacks fell to 12 per day from 22 per day during the previous three months, while Iraqi civilian casualties fell 35 per cent.
VOA: standard.2009.03.31
The CH-46 Sea Knight was flying over Karma, an Iraqiinsurgent base near Falluja.
The Americans have hoped in vain that, once the insurgent grip is weakened in any town, the Iraqi police would over time build up the networks of informants they need to nip rebel activity in the bud.
So the new government will face colossal challenges: the huge numbers of frustrated, unemployed Iraqi youths are a willing pool of recruits, not just for insurgent groups but also for the armed gangs and criminal underworld that hold sway in many parts of the country.