Situation Called Dire in West Iraq

[SWJED]

12 September Associated Press - Zilmer: U.S. 'Stifling' Iraq Insurgency by Robert Burns.

A senior American commander in Iraq said Tuesday that U.S.-led military operations are "stifling" the insurgency in western Anbar province but are not strong enough to defeat it.

Marine Maj. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer told reporters in a telephone interview from his headquarters in Fallujah that he has enough U.S. troops - about 30,000 - to accomplish what he called his main mission: training Iraqi security forces...

Zilmer, who has commanded U.S. forces in western Iraq since February, said increasing the number of U.S. troops there would help in the short term, "but at the end of the day I don't think it's going to be the significant change that is necessary to achieve long-term security and stability out here in Anbar."

What is needed, he said, is progress on the economic and political fronts that will undercut support for the insurgency...

On Edit: The Stars and Stripes also is reporting on General Zilmer's comments - Report Overlooked Anbar Province Progress

On Edit: Tom Ricks follows up in the Washington Post - General Affirms Anbar Analysis