US says number of attacks in Iraq exaggerated
Iraq-USA, Military, 2/28/2006

US Army Major General Rick Lynch, spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, said leadership from a "capable Iraqi government" has led directly to improvements in the security situation following the February 22 terrorist bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra.

"There have been pockets of violence, but we don't see it as a precursor to civil war," Lynch told journalists during a February 25 news briefing in Baghdad.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and his leadership team swiftly condemned the terrorist attack and coordinated effectively with tribal authorities, religious leaders and the media in an urgent appeal for calm, Lynch said.

The spokesman also praised Iraqi security forces for demonstrating national unity within their ranks, as they stepped up patrols and worked with coalition forces to analyze and verify individual reports of violence.

A significant challenge in Iraq continues to be the ability to verify and correct media reports of attacks, he said, adding, "In Iraq, it's all about perceptions of security."

Lynch said that Iraqi authorities and coalition forces use multiple methods to verify reports of violence. Depending on the nature of the report, area tactical commanders may dispatch Iraqi forces, coalition troops or unmanned aerial vehicles as part of their investigation, he said.

Lynch reported that there have been 45 public demonstrations across Iraq in response to the attack on the Golden Mosque, with 32 occurring in Baghdad. Contrary to local media reports, however, only one protest turned violent, he said.

Only 22 of 51 mosque attacks reported to the coalition's joint operations center since February 22 have been confirmed, Lynch said, and only six structures actually sustained significant damage.

Reports of violence frequently turn out to be mistaken following a military investigation, he said, pointing to one instance in which witnesses mistook a nearby trash fire for a mosque attack. In other cases, Lynch suggested insurgents deliberately might be disseminating exaggerated reports or misinformation to media contacts.

A typical terrorist tactic, he said, is to exaggerate the scope of attacks, the numbers of deaths and the extent of damage as a way to roil emotions in an effort to persuade public opinion that violence is more widespread than it really is.

Lynch did indicate that there has been a recent increase in civilian murders in Baghdad. Of 200 murders reported the week of February 19, he said, 119 have been confirmed, reflecting a marked increase from the average of 10 per day.

Lynch told reporters that Iraqi and coalition forces would continue to analyze reports of violence and verify them on a case-by-case basis.

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