One measure of an occupation's viability has to be the its ability to get good intel. If the occupiers can't do that, that's got to be a solid sign of isolation and probably lack of support. It also has a spiraling effect. Not having good intel means , obviously, you're going to have a tough time getting at the insurgents who are killing potential supporters and furthering your isolation.
A few months ago, I was harping on what seemed to be the U.S.'s severe lack of intel. I hadn't seen much specifically about it recently. I didn't assume things have gotten better. I also didn't expect that the head of U.S. forces would confirm that. But he basically just did. General Tom Metz, in a swan song interview before he heads home in a few weeks, told yesterday's LAT:
"After the transfer of sovereignty, I anticipated more intelligence from the Iraqis. That increase in intelligence has not developed as fast as I would have liked," Metz said by telephone from Baghdad in an interview late last week.
Correct those comments for bureaucratic niceties, of course.
