Various Iraq newsbits

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/2004...54405-9487r.htm

 

Commentary: Iraq's bridge too far

 

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

UPI Editor at Large

 

Madrid, Spain, Sep. 15 (UPI) -- Before the Iraqi war, Europe's principal intelligence services shared the Bush administration's view that Saddam Hussein was hiding his stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. Today, these same services disagree with the White House on several critical assessments.

 

Off the record conversations with intelligence chiefs in five major European countries -- each with multiple assets in Iraq -- showed remarkable agreement on these points:

 

-- The neo-con objectives for restructuring Iraq into a functioning model democracy were a bridge too far. They were never realistic.

 

-- The plan to train Iraqi military and security forces in time to cope with a budding insurgency before it spun out of control was stillborn.

 

-- The insurgency has mushroomed from 5,000 in the months following the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime to an estimated 20,000 today, which is still growing. Insurgents are targeting green Iraqi units and volunteers for training and some have already defected to the rebels.

 

-- Iraqi soldiers trained by the United States are complaining that the equipment ordered by the U.S. from the Ukraine that is being assigned to them gives them "2nd class status."

 

-- To cope with the insurgency, the United States requires 10 times the rebel strength -- or some 200,000 as a bare minimum. Short of that number, the insurgency will continue to gain momentum. The multiple is based on the British experience in Northern Ireland for a quarter of a century as well as France's civil war in Algeria (1954-62), when nationalist guerrillas were defeated militarily, but won the war diplomatically. France deployed half a million men to defeat the fellaghas in Algeria.

 

-- The U.S. occupation has lost control of large swathes of Iraq where the insurgency operates with virtual impunity.

 

-- Iraq was a diversion from the war on a global movement that was never anchored in Baghdad.

 

-- Iraq does not facilitate a solution to the Mideast crisis. And without such a solution, the global terrorist movement will continue to spread.

 

-- Iraq has become a magnet for would-be Muslim jihadis the world over; it has greatly facilitated transnational terrorism.

 

-- Charting a course out of the present chaos requires an open-ended commitment to maintain U.S. forces at the present level and higher through 2010 or longer.

 

-- The once magnificent obsession about building a model Arab democracy in Iraq now has the potential of a Vietnam-type quagmire.

 

-- Everything now undertaken in Iraq is palliative to tide the administration over the elections.

 

-- What is urgently needed, whether a Bush II administration or a Kerry White House, is for the world's great democracies to meet at the summit to map a common strategy to confront a global challenge. The war on terrorism -- on the terrorists who have hijacked Islam -- is only one part of a common approach for (1) the defense of Western democracies and (2) the gradual transformation of an Arab world that must be assisted out of poverty, despair and defeat.

 

-- A war on terrorism without a global strategy, which must include the funding of major educational reforms in poor countries like Pakistan, where wannabe jihadis are still being churned out by the hundreds of thousands, could only lead to the gradual erosion of Western democratic structures.

 

-- The "war on terror" is a misnomer that is tantamount to rhetorical disinformation. One can no more fight terrorism than one could declare war on Hitler's Panzers in World War II or Dreadnoughts in World War I. Terrorism is a weapons system that has been used time and again for the last 5,000 years. The root causes are the problem, not the weapon.

 

-- To ignore the causes is to guarantee escalation -- to weapons of mass destruction.

 

meanwhile.. Bush and Allawi were claiming that Iraq was on it's way to elections in January: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,133299,00.html

 

REPORTER: And do you believe, given the situation on the ground and Fallujah and other northern cities in the Sunni triangle, that elections are possible in four months?

 

BUSH: I do, because the prime minister told me they are. He's interested in moving this country forward. And you heard his statement. And I believe him.

 

and Donald Rumsfeld mentioned that parts of Iraq may not be voting in January: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...usa_rumsfeld_dc

 

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday raised the possibility that some areas of Iraq might be excluded from elections scheduled for January if security could not be guaranteed.

 

"If there were to be an area where the extremists focused during the election period, and an election was not possible in that area at that time, so be it. You have the rest of the election and you go on. Life's not perfect," Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee...

 

But the Pentagon chief said there could be a situation where an election could be held in "three-quarters or four-fifths of the country. But in some places you couldn't because the violence was too great."

 

and meanwhile in Fallujah, remember the brigade we let administer the city?

 

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/...00409131756.htm

 

Despite assurances to the US, a security force comprising former Iraqi soldiers in Fallujah actively aided the militants, surrendering weapons, vehicles and radios, a senior US Marine officer has said.

 

Some Fallujah Brigade members even participated in attacks on Marines in the city, the outgoing US Marine Corps General, James T Conway, in charge of Western Iraq said, adding that he opposed a Marine assault on militants in the city as the situation turned volatile but had to follow the orders by his superiors.

 

Conway arrived in Iraq in March pledging to accelerate reconstruction projects as a way to subdue Anbar province, dominated by Sunni Muslims. But on March 31 he was confronted in Fallujah with the killing of four US security contractors, whose bodies were mutilated or burned by a celebrating mob.

 

Conway said he resisted calls for revenge, and instead advocated targeted operations and continued engagement with municipal leaders.

 

"We felt like we had a method that we wanted to apply to Fallujah: that we ought to probably let the situation settle before we appeared to be attacking," he said.

 

The Washington Post said Conway echoed an argument made by many Iraqi politicians and American analysts -- that the US attack further radicalised a restive city, leading many residents to support the insurgents.

 

"When we were told to attack Fallujah, I think we certainly increased the level of animosity that existed," Conway said. He would not say where the order to attack originated, only that he received an order from his superior at the time, Ricardo Sanchez, the overall commander of US forces in Iraq.

 

The biggest difference between Iraq and Vietnam appears to be the scenary and the number of dead soldiers. The problem in Vietnam with politicians running the war seems to be reoccuring in Iraq. I'm sure America was told that the VietCong was a handful, like the Iraqi insurgents. I'm sure that the elections in South Vietnam were looked upon eagerly as well. Granted, there's potential that the elections could work. Although if the government elected asks us to leave, do we do that?

 

It won't be the exact same mess. Times change, the difficulties will be different, and the people killed won't come back.

 

Even with the constant optimism, I don't know what will have to happen in Iraq. It doesn't seem like capturing Saddam did anything to stop insurgents. It doesn't seem like there's too much to do that would better the situation.

 

*shrug* yeah..

[Guest MikeSC]

I'll take Allawi's word over the word of intel services that, apparently, botched their intel quite nicely leading up to the war.

-=Mike

[Justice 0]

The biggest difference between Iraq and Vietnam appears to be the scenary and the number of dead soldiers. The problem in Vietnam with politicians running the war seems to be reoccuring in Iraq. I'm sure America was told that the VietCong was a handful, like the Iraqi insurgents. I'm sure that the elections in South Vietnam were looked upon eagerly as well. Granted, there's potential that the elections could work. Although if the government elected asks us to leave, do we do that?

 

It won't be the exact same mess. Times change, the difficulties will be different, and the people killed won't come back.

 

Even with the constant optimism, I don't know what will have to happen in Iraq. It doesn't seem like capturing Saddam did anything to stop insurgents. It doesn't seem like there's too much to do that would better the situation.

 

*shrug* yeah..

Actually, Robbie, the biggest difference between Vietnam and Iraq is that we were fighting a standing, well-trained and moderately well-equiped army with the NVA. Every is so hot to jump on the Viet Cong, but the NVA was the most effective fighting force opposing us in that conflict. Hell, the Viet Cong essentially ceased to be as a fighting force after the huge failure called the Tet Offensive.

 

Were there elections in SV? I remember a triad of generals taking over after the President was assassinated.

 

The problem with politics is that we have people like you who are looking at a prolonged war as though it's exactly like Vietnam. This isn't one country trying to invade another. This is a small insurgency trying to disrupt a government that is solidifying slowly but surely. It seems like "Guerilla Warfare" automatically means Vietnam with so many people when the political conditions are so different that it's not even funny.

 

That's just my look on it. I see a few very critical difference between Vietnam and Iraq that really change the playing field.

[Guest MikeSC]

I'd take the Vietnam references more seriously --- if they didn't pop up with EVERY military action we take.

-=Mike

[Guest GreatOne]

I just don't see how Iraq=Vietnam (other than the continual left-stormbitching) since you know we were hardly close to anything resembling an objective in Nam. Meanwhile:

 

Clear out Saddam and sons and make way for new government: Check and on its' way. I'm glad to see such a strong will among the anti-Bush crowd.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

I'll take Allawi's word over the word of intel services that, apparently, botched their intel quite nicely leading up to the war.

-=Mike

This being the same intel that got us into Iraq in the first place?

 

Mike.. do you suspect Allawi has reason to sugarcoat or spin? It's reasonable that he would. How much of Iraq can he move though?

 

Actually, Robbie, the biggest difference between Vietnam and Iraq is that we were fighting a standing, well-trained and moderately well-equiped army with the NVA. Every is so hot to jump on the Viet Cong, but the NVA was the most effective fighting force opposing us in that conflict. Hell, the Viet Cong essentially ceased to be as a fighting force after the huge failure called the Tet Offensive.

 

Yeah.. that's one difference. It'd be like if we were fighting the Iranian army during this.

 

Were there elections in SV? I remember a triad of generals taking over after the President was assassinated.

 

Yeah.. and elections were held in 1968. The 1971 elections turned out to be considered a "sham". Although the South Vietnamese Democratic Process lost ground when Diem banned all opposition in the 1950s.

 

The problem with politics is that we have people like you who are looking at a prolonged war as though it's exactly like Vietnam.

 

I admit there's variables.

 

But, out of the wars since the early 1970s, this is the closest.

 

This isn't one country trying to invade another.

 

Although there were probably those who considered Vietnam a bit of a civil war too. But it was pretty much intranation. This is civil.

 

This is a small insurgency

 

With reports of around 20,000 or so people, and growing, even as they are killed.

 

trying to disrupt a government that is solidifying slowly but surely.

 

yep.. it's pretty much disruption, and related to a power vacuum in the country, various religious things, resentments and all that.

 

It seems like "Guerilla Warfare" automatically means Vietnam with so many people when the political conditions are so different that it's not even funny.

 

I didn't mention this.. but there's definately room for some improvement in dealing with guerrilla warfare. It cannot be eliminated completely. But still, it seems to be the thorn in the paw.

 

and again, I admit there's differences.

 

That's just my look on it. I see a few very critical difference between Vietnam and Iraq that really change the playing field.

 

maybe "the most similar" is a bit of an easy statement too.

 

I'd take the Vietnam references more seriously --- if they didn't pop up with EVERY military action we take.

 

that involves tactics which were not undertaken in those wars, but have seemingly been undertaken in this war.

 

Here's Former President Bush to a group of Gulf War veterans in 1998:

 

http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1999/03/a19990303bush.htm

 

Had we gone into Baghdad -- we could have done it, you guys could have done it, you could have been there in 48 hours -- and then what? Which sergeant, which private, whose life would be at stake in perhaps a fruitless hunt in an urban guerilla war to find the most-secure dictator in the world? Whose life would be on my hands as the commander-in-chief because I, unilaterally, went beyond the international law, went beyond the stated mission, and said we're going to show our macho? We're going into Baghdad. We're going to be an occupying power -- America in an Arab land -- with no allies at our side. It would have been disastrous.

 

Appears GW didn't hear those statements from his own father.

 

Clear out Saddam and sons and make way for new government: Check and on its' way.

 

yeah.. there's this problem.. involving insurgents having control of parts of the country. And as well, would you say that Iraq has been safer since Saddam Hussein was captured? It seems that the various groups have stepped up activity.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

A brief history of the Iraqi resistance:

 

This is the behavior of desperate men. Iraqi authorities know their days are numbered. And while the Iraqi regime is on the way out, it's important to know that it can still be brutal, particularly in the moments before it finally succumbs. This campaign could well grow more dangerous in the coming days and weeks as coalition forces close on Baghdad and the regime is faced with its certain death.

(Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, March 25, 2003)

 

I think these people are the last remnants of a dying cause.

(Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, on "dead-enders," June 18, 2003)

 

Every sign of progress in Iraq adds to the desperation of the terrorists and the remnants of Saddam's brutal regime.

(George W. Bush, Aug. 19, 2003)

 

This progress makes the remaining terrorists even more desperate and willing to lash out.

(George W. Bush, August 23, 2003)

 

The more progress we make in Iraq, the more desperate the terrorists will become.

(George W. Bush, August 26, 2003)

 

You have some remnants -- you have remnants of a regime that we removed, that was an oppressive regime, that is desperate -- more and more desperate every single day, because of the progress we are making on many fronts in Afghanistan.

(Press Secretary Scott McClellan, September 17, 2003)

 

The more progress we make, the more desperate the holdouts of Saddam Hussein's regime and foreign terrorists become.

(Press Secretary Scott McClellan, October 14, 2003)

 

The more progress we make on the ground, the more free the Iraqis become, the more electricity that's available, the more jobs are available, the more kids that are going to school, the more desperate these killers become.

(George W. Bush, October 27, 2003)

 

The more progress we make, the more desperate they tend to become.

(Press Secretary Scott McClellan, November 10, 2003)

 

As democracy takes hold in Iraq, the enemies of freedom will do all in their power to spread violence and fear.

(George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, Jan. 20, 2004)

 

The closer we come to passing sovereignty, the more likely it is that foreign fighters, disgruntled Baathists or friends of the Shia cleric will try to stop progress.

(George W. Bush, April 28, 2004)

 

[Our enemies] know that time is against them, and their only chance is to shake the resolve of Iraqis, Americans, anybody else who loves freedom. And that's why their actions have grown more cruel and sadistic. (George W. Bush, July 4, 2004)

 

The bad guys, the army of the darkness, are getting more helpless and hopeless. That's why they are stepping up these things. (Iraqi president Ghazi al-Yawer, July 30, 2004)

 

They are becoming more deadly because we think they are getting more desperate. (Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi,September 23, 2004)

 

or another way to see things..

 

We are winning the Iraq War. If there is violence, we are winning because it shows they are desperate. If there is no violence, we are winning because we have brought peace. If the violence is a large attack, it shows they are so weak that they need to focus their manpower and resources on spectacular attacks in order to exaggerate their importance and it shows we are winning.

If the violence is a series of small attacks, it shows we are winning because they have been reduced to fighting small battles. If parts of the country aren't under our control, it shows we are winning because they have consolidated into pockets of resistance because they know they have lost most of the war. If the violence is spread out across the country, it shows we are winning because the attacks are spread out instead of having any sort of organizational focus that could take the country out of our hands.

 

If foreign fighters are involved, it shows we are winning because the Iraqis support us and only outside troublemakers are keeping things going. If domestic fighters are involved, it shows we are winning because the old regime is fighting for its last gasps because it knows it can't win open and free elections. If we can't hold open and free elections in every community, it is because we are winning and those obstacles are a last ditch attempt to block democracy.

 

If other regimes are opening up, it shows that taking a hard line on Iraq was essential to forcing reform. If other regimes are closing themselves to the world, it shows that a hard line on Iraq was right because these regimes can't be trusted and are revealing their true colors. If the person on the street opposes America, it is because we are winning and evil regimes only prop themselves up through misinformation and boogeymen. If the person on the street supports America, it is because we are winning over their hearts and minds.

 

If we can't find weapons of mass destruction, it shows we are winning because we prevented an evil man from acquiring them. If we find weapons of mass destruction, then we were right all along and thank god we are winning the war against them. If terrorists strike our allies, it shows we are winning that they are hurting enough to have to try and scare them out of a winning coalition. If the terrorists don't strike our allies, it is because we are winning and new security measures have been working and being part of the coalition is paying off.

 

If something is wrong, it shows that we are right.

[NoCalMike 0]

Had we gone into Baghdad -- we could have done it, you guys could have done it, you could have been there in 48 hours -- and then what? Which sergeant, which private, whose life would be at stake in perhaps a fruitless hunt in an urban guerilla war to find the most-secure dictator in the world? Whose life would be on my hands as the commander-in-chief because I, unilaterally, went beyond the international law, went beyond the stated mission, and said we're going to show our macho? We're going into Baghdad. We're going to be an occupying power -- America in an Arab land -- with no allies at our side. It would have been disastrous.

 

I guess the apple fell Far from the tree in this instance.

[Justice 0]

Actually, Robbie, the biggest difference between Vietnam and Iraq is that we were fighting a standing, well-trained and moderately well-equiped army with the NVA. Every is so hot to jump on the Viet Cong, but the NVA was the most effective fighting force opposing us in that conflict. Hell, the Viet Cong essentially ceased to be as a fighting force after the huge failure called the Tet Offensive.

 

Yeah.. that's one difference. It'd be like if we were fighting the Iranian army during this.

No, it's a lot different than that. Fighting an organized Army on it's own turf, especially that of Vietnam, is something that has a bit of challenge to it.

 

I admit there's variables.

 

But, out of the wars since the early 1970s, this is the closest.

 

But... that doesn't make it comparable, even if it is the closest. This is the closest to an actual extended military action we've had since Vietnam. But a quagmire like Vietnam? No, not by a longshot.

 

Although there were probably those who considered Vietnam a bit of a civil war too. But it was pretty much intranation. This is civil.

 

If it were a Civil War, it was on a completely different scale. You are talking about a full-fledged war between two countries compared to a strict guerilla war by an insurgency. I wouldn't even call Iraq a civil war.

 

With reports of around 20,000 or so people, and growing, even as they are killed.

 

20,000 is the largest estimate, and there's significant argument over that at the moment. It ranges from 5,000-20,000, and on size that's nothing compared to what we were fighting during the Vietnam War. Frankly, for what it could be, I'd say we are luckier than we think.

 

yep.. it's pretty much disruption, and related to a power vacuum in the country, various religious things, resentments and all that.

 

I disagree with the power vacuum statement. The new Iraqi Government is beginning to solidify behind Allawi. With Sadr being handled, I think the new Iraqi government looks a lot stronger.

 

Of course there are cultural problems... they've basically been ignored by Saddam for a long time because he simply oppressed them so much. We need to work towards normalizing those.

 

And on resentments: There will always be resentments from people. That doesn't mean anything to me. Some things have to be done.

 

I didn't mention this.. but there's definately room for some improvement in dealing with guerrilla warfare. It cannot be eliminated completely. But still, it seems to be the thorn in the paw.

 

and again, I admit there's differences.

 

Agreed, we need to improve. But to compare this to Vietnam... it's just plain wrong. There are so many differences both militarily and politically that make it a much different war than Vietnam. GreatOne does make a good point in that the goal in this one is a lot clearer than Vietnam, and many Americans understand the importance of our action and involvement there. Vietnam, both of these were very much missing from the table.

 

And if there are so many differences, why do you continue to compare the two?

 

maybe "the most similar" is a bit of an easy statement too.

 

Weepy stuff

 

I'm sorry, but that's the only way to put that crap. It's just irritating as hell to see the incredibly generalizations made about war, Vietnam, and the entire situation overseas. The entire tone of it is filled with a sort of teenage angst that makes me want to gag...

 

Robbie, you okay? There is something significantly different about your tone in your post compared to your other ones. I dunno if anyone else noticed it, but it seems fairly evident to me.

[NoCalMike 0]

So I guess George Bush 41, according to his quote above, is a flip flopper.

[Guest MikeSC]

So I guess George Bush 41, according to his quote above, is a flip flopper.

Shame Bush 41 isn't even relevant to the current political debate, huh?

-=Mike

...Carter was a flip-flopper, too...

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Within the last week:

 

File this under "Messeges, not mixed"-

 

BUSH SAYS IRAQ WILL HOLD ELECTIONS IN JANUARY

 

"They're going to have elections in January in Iraq. When America gives its word, America will keep its word. We'll stand with the people of Afghanistan and Iraq."  [9/22/04, Remarks by the President at Victory 2004 Rally, Latrobe, Pennsylvania]

 

CHENEY SAYS IRAQIS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO HOLD ELECTIONS

 

"First of all, I'll be happy to pass along the message. I will see Mr. Allawi, as I mentioned, on Thursday -- both in the Congress, and then he'll come to the White House for a meeting with the President and myself. He has indicated repeatedly that he wants to keep that January deadline. We agree wholeheartedly. It's important to remember this is an Iraqi decision."  [Dick Cheney, Lansing, Michigan, 9/21/04]

 

RUMSFELD SAYS ELECTIONS CAN BE OPEN TO 3/4 OR 4/5 OF IRAQ

 

"Let's pretend hypothetically that you get to election time in January and lets pretend that its roughly like it is, or a little worse, which it could be, because you've got to expect it to continue. They're not happy the way its going.  They don't want a government elected in that country...badly, they don't want that.  And let's say you try to have an election and you could have it in three-quarters or four-fifths of the country, but some places you couldn't because the violence was too great.  So be it.  Nothing is perfect in life.  So you have election that's not quite perfect." [Donald Rumsfeld, Senate testimony 9/23/04]

 

DICK ARMITAGE SAYS ELECTIONS ARE OPEN TO ALL

 

"We're going to have an election that is free and open and that has to be open to all citizens. It's got to be our best effort to get it into troubled areas as well," [Dick Armitage, House testimony, 9/24/04]

 

The Kerry ad with the clip of the "Right Track" comment is here: http://www.johnkerry.com/video/092404_right_track.html

 

and here's a security update for Iraq:

 

SECURITY UPDATE - ISSUED 24 SEP 04

 

BAGHDAD

 

EVENTS OF INTEREST - 23 SEP 04:

 

Baghdad

 

MNF activity in Sadr City recently has resulted in an increase in reported insurgent incidents.

 

The BIAP Road and 14 Ramadan Street (Routes IRISH and

 

FORCE respectively) are under sustained attack with the terrorists trying to break into the BIAP. The vehicle borne IED threat remains high in these areas.

 

There are unofficial reports of criminal gangs in Baghdad conducting activity with a view to kidnapping ex-pats for the bounty offered by terrorist organizations. Currently the threat of kidnapping is extremely high.

 

Historically, MNF activity in Sadr City has generated reprisal or indirect fire attacks into the International Zone and personnel are warned of an increased likelihood of such attacks in the near future.

 

The threat of abduction from within the International Zone remains and personnel should check their personal, individual security arrangements accordingly.

 

0115 hrs Small arms fire attack on an Iraqi Police patrol in Ur District.

 

0110 hrs IED attack on a convoy in the area of the 14 Ramadan street/Route 10 intersection (Routes FORCE and CARDINALS).

 

0200 hrs Six IEDs found and cleared in Sadr City.

 

0808 hrs.Indirect fire attack on MNF facilities in the northern area of the airport.

 

0937 hrs. IED attack on a patrol on Route PREDATORS.

 

1132 hrs. Indirect fire attack (mortar) on an MNF base in the Shawra Wa Um Jidir District.

 

1220 hrs. RPG attack on a patrol on Haifa Street. 

 

OTHER AREAS:

EVENTS OF INTEREST - 23 SEP 04:

 

NORTH

 

The high level of activity in the North continues with no immediate prospect of a reduction. A general trend is emerging of attacks spreading into historically less active areas; planners should re-evaluate their movement policy in the light of the changing threat. More attacks on the oil infrastructure and personnel connected with it are expected, as is an increase in sectarian motivated terrorism.

 

The TAMPA Corridor, which includes the parallel Route DOVER, remains under sustained attack and movement along it should be limited to essential tasks only.

 

An official report comments on the increase in IED attacks in Diyala Province to the northeast of Baghdad and routes in this area should now also be regarded as at an increased level of threat.

 

Baqubah

 

0048 hrs. Small arms fire attack on the Iraqi Police in the Baqubah area.

 

0120 hrs. Indirect and small arms fire attack on the ING in the Baqubah area. 

Ad-Dujayl

 

0800 hrs. IED found and cleared on Route HEATHER in the Ad-Dujayl area. Duluiyah

 

1330 hrs. RPG attack on a patrol in Duluiyah.

 

1405 hrs. Indirect fire attack on a patrol in northern Duluiyah.

Hawija

 

1230 hrs. Unofficial report: An IED comprising a rocket, det cord and a timer was found and cleared in the Hawija area.

 

Al-Khalis

 

0840 hrs. RPG attack on a patrol in the Al-Khalis area. Mosul

 

23 Sep 04. Unofficial report: The Deputy Director of Oil Products for the Northern Oil company, Sana Toma Suleiman, was shot dead on his way to work in Mosul.

 

0126 hrs. Small arms fire attack in the Mosul area.

 

1250 hrs. Indirect fire attack (mortar) on a patrol in Mosul.

 

1345 hrs. Small arms fire attack on a patrol in Mosul. 

Samarra

0138 hrs. Small arms fire attack on a convoy in the Samarra area.

 

1408 hrs. Indirect fire attack in the Samarra area. Tikrit

 

0800 hrs. Unofficial report: An MNF convoy discovered an IED comprising a 155mm artillery shell at the intersection of Route TAMPA and the Tikrit bypass. A secondary device found in the area proved to be a hoax.

 

1000 hrs. Unofficial report: An anti-personnel mine was found and cleared on Route TAMPA North of Tikrti.

 

WEST

 

The MNF offensive continues in Fallujah and Ramadi. Travel along the Fallujah/Ramadi routes should be avoided.

 

Fallujah

 

Untimed. Indirect fire attack in the Fallujah area.

 

0818 hrs. IED attack on an oil pipeline 30km southwest of Fallujah. Habbaniyah

 

0410 hrs. RPG and small arms fire on a MNF helo  in the Al-Taqaddam area, near Habbaniyah. Husaybah

 

1258 hrs. IED attack on a patrol in southern Husaybah. Khaladiyah

 

0915 hrs. IED attack on a patrol using Route MICHIGAN in the Khaladiyah area. The device was placed on the northern side of the road.

 

1315 hrs. IED attack on a patrol in the area of Route MICHIGAN in the Khalidiyah area.

 

1315 hrs. IED attack on a patrol traveling eastwards on Route MICHIGAN in the Khalidiyah area. The device was placed on the southern side of the road.

 

SOUTH

 

The increase in activity in Basrah continues following unofficial reports of an instruction having been issued by the Mehdi command to carry out attacks in the South in response to arrests of senior Sadrists and MNF operations.

 

The Military is unofficially reported to have issued warnings regarding a threat to the white (civilian) fleet North of Basrah and en route to the airport. A similar warning has been issued regarding the intention to kidnap MNF personnel. 

 

It was also reported that. "A large number of US Army desert uniforms have been smuggled into the country by SCIRI. The guess is these uniforms will be used in an attempt to breech security and get VBIEDs closer to targets. Make sure just wearing a US uniform is not the ticket into your camps, the wearer still needs proper ID. Also need to be suspicious of people wearing US uniforms in situations that don't look right, ie someone in uniform driving a local garbage truck up to a camp check point. Wearing IPS uniforms has been a common tactic for the insurgents and this attempt is a logical next step to improve the tactic.

 

Most movement restrictions in Basrah have been lifted, however: the

 

situation is subject to change at very short notice and it is most strongly advised to consult the Military before moving.

 

Basrah

 

0055 hrs. Indirect fire attack (mortar) on an MNF base in Basrah.

 

0200 hrs. RPG and small arms fire attack on an MNF patrol in Basrah.

 

1051 hrs. IED found and cleared in the area of the Shatt Al-Arab Hotel in Basrah. Suwayrah

 

0730 hrs. Indirect fire attack (rocket) on an MNF base in Suwayrah. 

 

MEDIA REPORTS.

 

GENERAL

 

IED and IDF are the preferred method of attacks, along with drive-by SAF and rolling ambushes, with the trend towards vehicle borne IED increasing. As high value targets become more difficult and with less opportunity, softer targets are expected become the main focus with numbers (mass casualties) being the primary objective to inspire fear and captivate the media.

 

Kidnapping of Iraqi employees working for Foreign Companies and international staff remain a high threat. Security measures should be reviewed with the aim of conducting awareness training, surveillance detection etc..

 

That's from USAID. Obviously they missed the events of flower throwing and the bunnies.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Secretary Rumsfeld has good news from Iraq!

 

http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/200...secdef1326.html

 

We had something like 200 or 300 or 400 people killed in many of the major cities of America last year.  Is it perfectly peaceful?  No. What's the difference?  We just didn't see each homicide in every major city in the United States on television every night.  It happens here in this city, in every major city in the world.  Across Europe, across the Middle East, people are being killed.  People do bad things to each other.  The idea that we'd have to stay there till that place was peaceful -- as I think you said, or something like that -- and everyone goes happily on their way, or whatever you said.

 

The population of the USA: 293 million

The population of Iraq: 25 million

 

It's a deceptive comparison.

 

Although, the risk of being abducted and decapitated might be high in the US too, like in Iraq.

 

"If America were Iraq, What would it be Like?"

 

and here's one more thing from Juan Cole:

 

 

The red parts are mainly controlled by the insurgents. The pink is the location of fighting.

 

Seems like a pretty large chunk of the country isn't in the hands of us or the Allawi government. The same area which may not vote in the elections (according to "The Donald", Secretary Rumsfeld)

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

"And the final point that I think needs to be made is this question of casualties. I don't think you could have done all of that without significant additional US casualties. And while everybody was tremendously impressed with the low cost of the conflict, for the 146 Americans who were killed in action and for their families, it wasn't a cheap war. And the question in my mind is how many additional American casualties is Saddam worth? And the answer is not very damned many. So I think we got it right, both when we decided to expel him from Kuwait, but also when the President made the decision that we'd achieved our objectives and we were not going to go get bogged down in the problems of trying to take over and govern Iraq." - [Dick Cheney, Remarks to the Discovery Institute, Seattle, WA, 8/14/92]

[Guest MikeSC]

I take Cole as seriously as I take Chomsky.

 

Namely, not at all.

-=Mike

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Ya know.. I guess Rumsfeld was right about Iraq being as safe as most American cities. I was almost carjacked by armed militants recently. Not to mention the numerous bombings and beheadings in the KC metro area

[Guest MikeSC]

Ya know.. I guess Rumsfeld was right about Iraq being as safe as most American cities. I was almost carjacked by armed militants recently. Not to mention the numerous bombings and beheadings in the KC metro area

I'm sorry --- there are no violent parts in America. I forgot.

-=Mike

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Ya know.. I guess Rumsfeld was right about Iraq being as safe as most American cities. I was almost carjacked by armed militants recently. Not to mention the numerous bombings and beheadings in the KC metro area

I'm sorry --- there are no violent parts in America. I forgot.

-=Mike

Not on the level of Iraq.

 

or did I miss a RPG attack in Detroit?

[Guest MikeSC]

Ya know.. I guess Rumsfeld was right about Iraq being as safe as most American cities. I was almost carjacked by armed militants recently. Not to mention the numerous bombings and beheadings in the KC metro area

I'm sorry --- there are no violent parts in America. I forgot.

-=Mike

Not on the level of Iraq.

 

or did I miss a RPG attack in Detroit?

Total deaths were relatively close.

-=Mike

[Guest GreatOne]

Big deal, the goal is to have elections in Iraq but that might not be possible. Nevertheless it's still the goal, I continue to be impressed with the 'Oh the task is too great let's quit' MO of the left here...................

 

And you think that Cheney quote was made out of re-election concerns? Thank god somebody FINALLY came forward and said 'Re-election or not, this needs to be done'.

[Justice 0]

Ya know.. I guess Rumsfeld was right about Iraq being as safe as most American cities. I was almost carjacked by armed militants recently. Not to mention the numerous bombings and beheadings in the KC metro area

I'm sorry --- there are no violent parts in America. I forgot.

-=Mike

Not on the level of Iraq.

 

or did I miss a RPG attack in Detroit?

There are many other ways to die in Detroit, I assure you.