The Surge...

The news reports in the southland have been lauding the efforts of Los Angeles Police Chief Bratton's war on gangs. The Chief announced an increase in officers assigned to the South LA area following the killing of 14 year old Cheryl Green in December. Their efforts have resulted in a decrease in violence in the area along with an increase in arrests. The FBI is now joining the effort to coordinate the skills of both agencies. An FBI Spokesman said, "Here in Los Angeles the ratio of gang members to police officers is overwhelming," he added. "This is where we in the FBI can help."

Out numbered police battling an increase in gang related crime and their solution was a surge in officers assigned to the area. Indeed, the focused use of available resources on a defined objective seems to have provided expected results. This is a good thing for LA and their efforts should be applauded.

However, I was thinking.....how come an officer "surge" in LA is a laudable effort with proven results while a troop "surge" in Iraq is a hopeless effort with no chance of support? Hmmmmmmm? Just thinking....