Iraq attacks at highest level in two years - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com

Iraq attacks at highest level in two years - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com: "WASHINGTON - Attacks on U.S. and Iraqi troops and Iraqi civilians jumped sharply in recent months to the highest level since Iraq regained its sovereignty in June 2004, the Pentagon told Congress on Monday in the latest indication of that country’s spiraling violence.

In a report issued the same day Robert Gates took over as defense secretary, the Pentagon said that from mid-August to mid-November, the weekly average number of attacks increased 22 percent from the previous three months.

At a ceremonial swearing-in attended by President Bush, Gates warned that failure in Iraq would be a “calamity that would haunt our nation, impair our credibility and endanger Americans for decades to come.” He said he intended to go to Iraq soon to get the “unvarnished” advice of U.S. commanders on how to stabilize the country." Read complete post here.