Iraqi Insurgents Grow Bolder

There's seemingly no end to the attacks on American soldiers in Iraq, but the Mosul suicide bombing and now this attack on a patrol (also in Mosul) signal that the insurgents are growing bolder in the type and ferocity of the attacks they are willing to carry out.

The soldier who died in Mosul was on a patrol that was hit by a suicide car bomb close to a U.S. outpost. Gunmen tried to overrun it, sending in another suicide truck bomber and firing mortars and rockets in an apparent bid to wipe out the unit.

About 15 U.S. troops were wounded before jets put the attackers to flight, leaving about 25 insurgents dead, U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Paul Hastings said.

There's no counting the number of mortar attacks, bombing, IEDs, or hit and runs conducted against American troops, but an attack this bold and determined is something new, and it indicates a greater level of coordination and confidence among the insurgents. It’s certainly no coincidence that this attack took place in Mosul, the sight of the deadly bombing of an American base last week.

The number of attacks continues to grow as well.

The number of attacks on U.S. and allied troops grew from an estimated 1,400 in September to 1,600 in October and 1,950 in November. A year earlier, attacks numbered 649 in September, 896 in October and 864 in November.

The administration continues to argue that the attacks are part of an effort to disrupr the upcoming election. That's true, but the implication that the number of attacks will abate after the election is probably not.