One week later, here it is: Gen. Petraeus’ definition of sectarian violence.
Ever since the GAO report last week said it was “not clear” that the surge had contributed to a drop in sectarian deaths, Gen. Petraeus has been under pressure to explain his methodology. The GAO was agnostic on whether or not sectarian attacks had declined in recent months, citing that it required knowing a perpetrator’s intent — a task beyond the capabilities of the agency. But GAO was, at least inferentially, skeptical, noting that the broader pattern of attacks on civilians — of which sectarianism is a proportion — hasn’t declined. And further reporting suggested problems with how MNF-I has tabulated sectarian casualties: one famous Washington Post story cited a senior intelligence official claiming MNF-I looks at where a bullet entered someone’s head to divine sectarian intent.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=179898