Ummmm, DUHHHHH

Iraq insurgents

'effective,adaptable,'

Rumsfeld
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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A Pentagon assessment has concluded that Iraqi insurgents remain "effective, adaptable and intent on carrying out attacks" on Iraqi officials and civilians, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.

The US Congress requires the Pentagon to report periodically on progress made in creating Iraqi security forces and stabilizing the country. Rumsfeld said the first of the reports would be submitted to Congress Thursday or Friday.

Previewing its findings, Rumsfeld told reporters the report will say attacks on infrastructure have declined since the January 30 elections in Iraq, and week-to-week incidents are off from their pre-election peak.

He said elections to ratify a new constitution and for a new national assembly remain on schedule, and recent polls show rising confidence in the future among Iraqis.

But the report also will set forth a "candid assessment of the challenges," he said.

"Among them, though they've suffered numerous setbacks, terrorists remain effective, adaptable, and intent on carrying out attacks on Iraqi civilians and Iraqi officials," he said.

"Extremists continue to try to foment tension, ethnic strife, and indeed even civil war between Sunni and Shia through murders and attacks on religious sites," the defense chief said.

"Countries such as Syria and Iran remain notably unhelpful in assisting Iraq, securing its borders from foreign invaders, and unemployment remains a concern though increasing business investment should alleviate that problem," he said.

Rumsfeld acknowledged that insurgent attacks have grown more lethal.

"Yet despite their headline grabbing mass murders, the extremists are failing," he said. "Indeed, the murder of Iraqi citizens and children appear to be hardening the majority of the Iraqi peoples commitment to defeat Al-Qaeda and to build a better country."