Friday, November 14, 2003
Who is the enemy in Iraq? A telling clip from a Reuters story:
"It would be helpful if we knew. That might make it easier. At least you know who you're going after," a defense official said on Friday.
The failure to know with better clarity who is perpetrating the attacks is "a very powerful indication of how deficient our intelligence is," said Andrew Bacevich, a Boston University international relations professor and retired Army colonel.
"I think it has to be unprecedented in U.S. military history to be engaged in a war of increasing intensity for this long a time and we really still don't know who the enemy is," Bacevich added.
The defense official said knowing who was leading the insurgency could help U.S. forces crush it, adding, "It would be a real surprise if it were not an Iraqi in charge."
"It would be helpful if we knew. That might make it easier. At least you know who you're going after," a defense official said on Friday.
The failure to know with better clarity who is perpetrating the attacks is "a very powerful indication of how deficient our intelligence is," said Andrew Bacevich, a Boston University international relations professor and retired Army colonel.
"I think it has to be unprecedented in U.S. military history to be engaged in a war of increasing intensity for this long a time and we really still don't know who the enemy is," Bacevich added.
The defense official said knowing who was leading the insurgency could help U.S. forces crush it, adding, "It would be a real surprise if it were not an Iraqi in charge."
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Buried in the AP story on Japan's troop delay:
. . . For a second straight night Thursday, steady explosions shook Baghdad after sundown, part of a "Operation Iron Hammer," — a U.S. campaign against insurgents.
American troops also shelled a dye factory on the southern outskirts of Baghdad in retaliation against rebel attacks on coalition headquarters. The plant, which has been idle since the war that deposed Saddam Hussein, was rocketed by Apache helicopters on Wednesday evening. U.S. commanders said it had been used by insurgents to store ammunition.
On Thursday, U.S. soldiers with loudspeakers drove through the neighborhood warning occupants to leave before the impending strike. Later, at least nine large-caliber shells were fired into the empty plant, heavily damaging the structure.
The tactical goal was not immediately clear since this sprawling metropolis of 5 million people has other sites to launch attacks.
But the effect of retaliatory tactics could have the long-lasting effect of increasing resentment among Iraqis already upset by the heavy-handed tactics of the U.S. military.
"George Bush said he wants to forge friendship between the Iraqi people and America. Is this how he wants build this friendship?" said the plant's owner, Waad Dakhel al-Boulani, as he watched the shelling. "The only weapon that they found inside was a Kalashnikov rifle for the guard."
Lt. Col. George Krivo, the U.S. Army spokesman in Iraq, said that similar operations against the insurgents would intensify and continue. "What you are seeing ... are stepped-up offensive operations to push terrorists out of their lairs," he said.
. . . For a second straight night Thursday, steady explosions shook Baghdad after sundown, part of a "Operation Iron Hammer," — a U.S. campaign against insurgents.
American troops also shelled a dye factory on the southern outskirts of Baghdad in retaliation against rebel attacks on coalition headquarters. The plant, which has been idle since the war that deposed Saddam Hussein, was rocketed by Apache helicopters on Wednesday evening. U.S. commanders said it had been used by insurgents to store ammunition.
On Thursday, U.S. soldiers with loudspeakers drove through the neighborhood warning occupants to leave before the impending strike. Later, at least nine large-caliber shells were fired into the empty plant, heavily damaging the structure.
The tactical goal was not immediately clear since this sprawling metropolis of 5 million people has other sites to launch attacks.
But the effect of retaliatory tactics could have the long-lasting effect of increasing resentment among Iraqis already upset by the heavy-handed tactics of the U.S. military.
"George Bush said he wants to forge friendship between the Iraqi people and America. Is this how he wants build this friendship?" said the plant's owner, Waad Dakhel al-Boulani, as he watched the shelling. "The only weapon that they found inside was a Kalashnikov rifle for the guard."
Lt. Col. George Krivo, the U.S. Army spokesman in Iraq, said that similar operations against the insurgents would intensify and continue. "What you are seeing ... are stepped-up offensive operations to push terrorists out of their lairs," he said.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Amazing perspective on the current trouble with the Iraqi Governing Council from River in Baghdad (Baghdad is Burning).
Incredible data from the Gallup and CIA polls of Iraqis:
Only 5 percent of those polled said they believed the United States invaded Iraq "to assist the Iraqi people," and only 1 percent believed it was to establish democracy there.
The Coalition Provisional Authority posts some of their poll results here. Just in case they take the polls down once the dismal results spread, the cached site is here.
Only 5 percent of those polled said they believed the United States invaded Iraq "to assist the Iraqi people," and only 1 percent believed it was to establish democracy there.
The Coalition Provisional Authority posts some of their poll results here. Just in case they take the polls down once the dismal results spread, the cached site is here.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
