Baghdad Surge

No doubt the events that occured at Virginia Tech are overshadowing anything else in the media these days and rightly so. But not to let it get lost in the shuffle the situation in Iraq is not getting any better despite the efforts of the troop surge.
Today in 4 waves of attacks, 171 people were killed. The car bombings have only stepped up and at this point appear to have become more lethal as well with todays attacks being the most deadly day since the new security measures took place(NY Times). The alleged success that is being pointed to by the Bush administration is the lack of sectarian killings. Despite the fact that many of the militias and insurgent groups have simply decided to lay low and avoid the surge. The strategy doesnt work it is simply pouring fuel on the flames and unless tactics and treatment of civilians change no progress will be made. As I've said time and again, this situation has to be solved by outside diplomacy and internally by Iraq and its security forces. Only the Iraqis can police Iraq and until they realize we wont be there there is no incentive for them to put their lives on the line in a law enforcment capacity if someone else will do it for them. Whats the old saying, who boys the cow when you get the milk for free?