Rebels seize 2 police stations in town once pacified by U.S.(Samarra)

[leftchick]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/10374864.htm?1c

~snip~

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two months after U.S. forces declared that they had pacified Samarra, the restive city again erupted in violence with a string of attacks Wednesday that killed at least four Iraqis, damaged a U.S. military convoy and caused the local police chief to announce his resignation.

~snip~

The strikes in Samarra, about 65 miles north of Baghdad, followed a month of car bombs, ambushes and bloodshed in the Iraqi city that shook residents, shuttered businesses and disrupted voter registration efforts.

In announcing his resignation over a mosque loudspeaker, Maj. Gen. Talib Shamil Samarriee said insurgents had attacked his home and attempted to kidnap his son at school, where teachers hid the boy to save him. Earlier in the day, gunmen attacked the chief's car.

``I came according to the wish of the sons of the city in order to serve this city and to present any assistance I can,'' the police commander said. ``But after what has happened to me within these three days, especially today, when my house and family were attacked and terrified, I decided to quit everything. I have no relationship with any governmental office.''

U.S. military officials said Wednesday evening that they had contacted the police chief, and he was still on the job. It was not immediately clear whether Samarriee had changed his mind.

[hatrack]

1. But . . . but . . . but . . . we BROKE THE BACK of the insurgency!!!

"Will it work?"

"Gotta work better than the truth!"

:puke:

[Solly Mack]

2. Mission Accomplished........maybe...maybe not

[maddezmom]

3. Insecurity in rebel bastion of Ramadi threatens elections

~snip~

"Right now there is no police force," said Lieutenant Colonel Justin Gubler, who commands the US battalion in charge of security in half of the city.


As for the national guard, stationed a few hundred metres (yards) away, "they don't venture much outside. Actually they only secure the perimeter around their compound," Gubler said.


The mere presence of US soldiers, who are not supposed to surpervise the elections in any way, also attracts rebels from far and wide.


Rather than be accused of collaborating and become rebel targets, Ramadi's police threw in the towel when interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi in early November declared a state of emergency in Al-Anbar province, of which the city is the capital, ahead of a US-led assault on the nearby rebel bastion of Fallujah.


The national guards stay off the the streets for the same reason.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=10&u=/afp/20041209/wl_mideast_afp/iraqvoteramadi_041209185906

[Barrett808]

4. Now the insurgency will peel US troops away from the Fallujah garrison

...to stanch bleeding in various cities. Soon, the Fallujah garrison will be depleted, surrounded, and at the mercy of endangered supply lines.

Yes indeedy, we have them right where they want us.

[leftchick]

7. .......

[frylock]

5. 2 months from now, substitute samarra with fallujah..

and 2 months after that, substitute Fallujah with Ar Ramadi. And the beat goes on. Freedom is on the march, and it ain't about to stop.

[VegasWolf]

6. Those damn Whack A Moles. n/t

[Moderator]

8. Duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1056728