Baghdad - "Phase Two"

[Joe for Clark]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/223920/1/.html

I hope that link works - Joe

Iraqi and US forces relaunch operation to secure Baghdad
Posted: 09 August 2006 1452 hrs



BAGHDAD - US and Iraqi forces on Wednesday formally launched the second phase of a security plan designed to regain control of the streets of Baghdad and put an end to a wave of vicious sectarian murders.

Phase two of Operation Together Forward will bring an extra 6,000 Iraqi police and troops into the capital, along with 5,500 American soldiers pulled in from different missions elsewhere in Iraq, a US statement said.

The first phase of the plan, which began in June, has already put more than 50,000 soldiers on the streets but has thus far failed to stem a surge in tit-for-tat sectarian killings and indiscriminate bomb attacks.

"We must dramatically reduce the level of violence in Bagdad that is fuelling sectarianism," said Major General James Thurman, commander of US-led forces in the Baghdad region.

"Iraqi and US forces will help the citizens of Baghdad by reducing the violence that has plagued this city since the Samarra bombing," he said, referring to an insurgent attack on a Shiite mosque in February.

Since July 9, Iraqi and US troops operating under the original plan have killed or captured 411 "murderers associated with death squads", the statement said, using the military's new catch-all term for illegal armed groups.

Rival Sunni and Shiite death squads carry out kidnappings and assassinations -- often with the complicity of the militias which operate in the city -- while insurgents continue to target crowds and police patrols with bombs.

On Tuesday 19 people were killed in five bombings in Baghdad and five more died in a brutal bank robbery.

- AFP /ls

[louis-t]

1. Yes, because it's important to get the targets off the backs of civilians

and back on our troops where it belongs. :shrug:

[Stella_Artois]

9. A dissenting opinion ?

Its just a few dead enders and its in the last gasp. The mission is almost acomplished.

Why do you hate America ?

[rodeodance]

2. and 3 US troops died today

[saigon68]

5. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE and son

[Ilsa]

7. Jesus H Roosevelt, I hadn't even heard about that.

It's been all Leiberman, all day.

RIP, dear soldiers. And blessings to your families.

[PA Democrat]

3. It's time to bring our troops home.

I hope your son remains safe, Joe.

[Joe for Clark]

4. Thank you PA Democrat..

Joe

[Ilsa]

6. Excellent find.

"Operation Together Forward"? Why don't they give it an even cuter name, like "Barney the purple dinosaur has a parade in Baghdad"? While they are at it, the Administration should just tell the citizens here and there and our troops the freaking truth about what is really going on.

I like your thread title (excellent synopsis) but I bet the mods will want you to retitle it to be the same as the article name.

[Joe for Clark]

8. I have never felt it necessary to post on LBN.

I swear I hope I never do again. I am surprised I got thru it.

I really think your "Barney" comparision is about right, sadly so.

I trust the mods here very much, and if they need to retitle it they can do so with my blessing.

I think this is just like that moment when you are in a car accident - that moment from when you know you are going to hit and you actually do. And split seconds seem like an eternity.

Joe

[xchrom]

10. so the insurgents and militia members take a powder

for a while and come back later.

insurgent have all the time in the world -- we do not -- and contrary to the piss conservatives drink from the rove fountain -- and we never did.

[Joe for Clark]

11. Astute.

They don't have to win, just not lose - and we have to win- or we lose.

SO - we have to push it - which we are now.

Really, it is like some accident happening in slow motion.

Joe

[xchrom]

13. indeed.

and that slow motion thing is really apt if you watched viet nam on the telley.

i think america would have come to it's senses far faster if the caskets and casualties were really being presented to them.

but i could be wrong too -- this is a very different america from then.

[Joe for Clark]

15. I guess it really is different -

You know I watched as people spit on my brothers in airports coming home then.

So now what?? Are they going to cheer as those dumb kids come home today??

Given the consequences - I take the spitting.

Those kids need to come home right f*cking now!!!

Joe

And I don't think America is different exactly - I think we grew up - and we learned how to use the internet - and we learned how to talk to each other directly.

I think we are of one mind.

[Joe for Clark]

16. I guess it really is different -

You know I watched as people spit on my brothers in airports coming home then.

So now what?? Are they going to cheer as those dumb kids come home today??

Given the consequences - I take the spitting.

Those kids need to come home right f*cking now!!!

Joe

And I don't think America is different exactly - I think we grew up - and we learned how to use the internet - and we learned how to talk to each other directly.

I think we are of one mind.

[Joe for Clark]

18. I am sorry I double posted.

Proving that I suck at this thing - I do.

But I am trying my best to get out a message here, as many of you guys are.

Joe

[Bretttido]

12. You would think 50,000 soldiers would curb violence

But if you take into account that the US military no longer keeps troops in a targettable position for more than a few moments and that they always move together in large convoys, it's easy to realize how little of an effect they will actually have. You basically watch the streets, "Hey a convoy is coming, and now it's gone. Okay, we're clear to kill."

[Joe for Clark]

14. It is a good post.

It is pretty good.

It is kinda funny - we send (maybe) a few brigades into a city of 3+ million and call it "Phase Two".

If I wasn't American I'd laugh my ass off.

I think your observation is about right, though.

But it isn't funny now.

I do think, we have a lot of very negligent senior officers here.


Maybe they need to know the country IS watching here.

Joe

[Bretttido]

20. They're impotent because of politics

To actually curb violence, they would need men on the ground patrolling in small groups. They are politically unable to do that because of the massive number of American casualties that would ensue... what with november elections coming up and all.

[Joe for Clark]

21. Well, I think they want to win -

They have a few months now -

Do you really think they care about how many body bags that takes??

I don't.

Joe

[Roland99]

17. They gonna lay seige as Phase 3?

[Joe for Clark]

19. No - they don't have the time.

They will prepare (such as it is) a field and then they will follow it up.

They don't even have a choice, not with this officer corps.

And they only have a few months.

I cannot tell you how sick it makes me to even type this.

Joe