In a story about the recent increase in helicopter crashes in Iraq, the New York Times hits the nail on the head:
“Historically, improved tactics in shooting down helicopters have proved to be important factors in conflicts in which guerrillas have achieved victories against major powers, including battles in Somalia, Afghanistan and Vietnam.”
The US military needs to get this situation under control. If the insurgents control traffic along Iraq’s road through the use of IEDs, and they can make helicopter travel dangerous, too, then the Americans really will be trapped in the Green Zone. This is bad news for the military project, but it is far worse for American diplomatic efforts. The State Department is already finding it difficult to convince senior diplomats to serve in Iraq.
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