Meanwhile the New York Times is reporting of a growing consensus inside the US military the Iraq insurgency is getting stronger. According to the Pentagon, July saw the highest monthly total of roadside bombs since the start of the war. The number of daily strikes against US and Iraqi security forces has doubled since the start of this year. A senior Defense Department official said the insurgency “has gotten worse by almost all measures, with insurgent attacks at historically high levels.” The official added the insurgency has more public support and more available fighters than at any point. The attacks are increasingly targeting US troops. Five hundred and eighteen soldiers were wounded in attacks last month, up from less than three hundred in January. And of more than sixteen hundred bombs that exploded in July, more than two-thirds were directed at the US-led occupation force. One military consultant with ties to the White House said the Bush administration is considering plans for the possibility Iraq’s elected government might not survive. The expert said the plans include alternatives other than democracy.