Only CBS Notes Fewest Rocket and Mortar Attacks in Two Years

Change font size:  A |  A

Of the broadcast network evening newscasts on Monday night, only the CBS Evening News devoted a few seconds to some more good news from Iraq: How rocket and mortar attacks on U.S. forces fell to in October to the lowest level since February of 2006. Anchor Katie Couric read this short item on her November 12 broadcast:

Turning to Iraq now and another sign that violence there is decreasing. In October, insurgent rocket and mortar attacks fell to their lowest level in nearly two years. The U.S. military reported today there were 369 of those attacks last month. Rocket and mortar attacks peaked in June when there were more than a thousand.

A Monday AP dispatch from Lauren Frayer in Baghdad, “Iraq rocket, mortar fire at 21-month low,” reported:

Rocket and mortar attacks in Iraq have decreased to their lowest levels in more than 21 months, the U.S. military said Monday. In the capital, Iraqi officials said a taxi driver was shot dead by a private security guard hired to protect U.S. convoys.

Last month saw 369 "indirect fire" attacks -- the lowest number since February 2006. October's total was half of what it was in the same month a year ago. And it marked the third month in a row of sharply reduced insurgent activity, the military said.

The U.S. command issued the tallies a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said suicide attacks and other bombings in Baghdad also have dropped dramatically, calling it an end of sectarian violence....