BLAIR ALMOST GETS IT

Referring to the results of the Iraq Study Group, Blair implicitly contradicts Pres. Fredo's happy talk:

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: I think the analysis of the situation is not really in dispute.


Here's some of the analysis:

The study group concluded that the terrorist group al-Qaida in Iraq is now largely Iraqi-run and made up of Sunni Arabs. Some 1,300 foreign fighters are believed to support the group or be available to carry out suicide bombings, the study found.

The authors also provided new statistics to capture the situation's gravity. They noted, for instance, that four of Iraq's 18 provinces are highly insecure — Baghdad, Anbar, Diyala and Salahuddin — and account for about 40 percent of Iraq's 26 million people.

They highlighted deep problems with the Iraqi economy. Growth was 4 percent this year, despite hopes of 10 percent gains. Inflation topped 50 percent, and unemployment is believed to range from 20 percent to 60 percent.