Notorious Baghdad area walled in by US and Iraq security forces

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060815/wl_afp/iraq_060815085948

BAGHDAD (AFP) - US and Iraqi forces have sealed off a notoriously violent district of southern Baghdad with massive concrete walls as part of a broader push to quell sectarian violence, the US military said.

US headquarters also announced it was conducting a deeper probe into what caused a series of huge explosions on Sunday in Baghdad's Zafaraniyah neighbourhood which killed 57 Iraqis and wounded more than 150.

The military said dozens of concrete barriers have been put up around the homes of residents in the district of Dura since Friday "in an attempt to keep terrorists out".

"All vehicles leaving or entering the neighbourhood are stopped at designated checkpoints manned by Iraqi police looking for known terrorists, bomb-making materials and illegal weapons," the military said.

The walls were built as part of Operation Together Forward, an ongoing security plan launched by the security forces in mid-June.

[mediaman007]

1. Ahh, Yes! The Warsaw Ghetto Redux!

This is the Twilight Zone!

[ret5hd]

3. there's another wall being built that more closely...

matches that description:

[Javaman]

8. Took the words right out of my mouth. nt

[hobbit709]

2. Wonder how many tunnels

are already started under the walls.

[Massacure]

7. Isn't it a little bit difficult to dig tunnels in the sand?

[hobbit709]

9. WWII POWs used bed slats

so many of them that their beds in the camps were in danger of collapsing. It's not all sand there anyway-lots of rock and real dirt too.

[Tempest]

11. Doesn't seem to be a problem on the Mexico border

It compacts under pressure and with support beams is quite stable.

[acmavm]

4. There's a real long-term intelligent solution to the problem.

Are these people CRAZY??? A wall is their solution?

The 21st Century solution to everything, build a wall. Israel's building one around all the arable land and water in the Middle East, we're building one down at the Mexican border, and now they're gonna wall in/out people in Baghdad.

[Eugene]

5. "...classic 'inkspot' counter-insurgency strategy..."

A Reuters article from yesterday describes the new tactics:

Forces change tack in battle for Baghdad

By Ross Colvin
Reuters
Monday, August 14, 2006; 9:09 AM

-snip-

The predominantly Sunni district south of the Tigris River has been ravaged
by the sectarian bloodshed that pits Sunnis against Shi'ites, killing scores
in Baghdad every week.

Until last Monday that is, when thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops sealed off
parts of the district and began searching every house and business, street
by street, neighborhood by neighborhood, in a hunt for weapons and militants.

-snip-

Rather than focusing only on attacking the militias blamed for much of the
sectarian violence, U.S. and Iraqi forces have adopted the classic "inkspot"
counter-insurgency strategy of securing an area, offering economic opportunities
to residents and then expanding their efforts to other districts.

-snip-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400201.html

[Supersedeas]

13. most probably these problems are deeper than one neighborhood...

but a lil propoganda about attacking the symptoms while the Media ignores the causes is not such a pathetic thing...it is easy journalism.

[Kailassa]

16. Of course, as shown in Vietnam and Fallujah,

America uses a variation of the "inkspot" strategy,
more in line with conventional laundry proceedures.

Enclose the inkspot and wipe it out.

[daleo]

17. inkspot=strategic hamlet (i.e. Vietnam strategy) n/t

[Nihil]

6. They're importing British expertise ...

None of yer Halliburton crap round here ... Bob can do it! (Yes he can!)

[Barrett808]

10. Wow, that's freedom on the march! n/t

[saigon68]

30. kick

[TexasLawyer]

12. As Molly Ivins says...

Show me a 30 foot wall, and I'll show you a 31 foot ladder!

[leftchick]

18. lol!

how true! Leave it to Molly!

[wanpete]

14. what better way to win hearts and minds than to build a concrete wall

around a community that you occupy and destabilize? Democracy at it's finest!

:sarcasm:

[underpants]

15. "Mr. Gorbachev TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!"

Hiphiphooooray!!!!!!!!

[saigon68]

19. Notorious Baghdad area walled in by US and Iraq security forces

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060815/wl_afp/iraq_060815085948


Notorious Baghdad area walled in by US and Iraq security forces

BAGHDAD (AFP) - US and Iraqi forces have sealed off a notoriously violent district of southern Baghdad with massive concrete walls as part of a broader push to quell sectarian violence, the US military said.


US headquarters also announced it was conducting a deeper probe into what caused a series of huge explosions on Sunday in Baghdad's Zafaraniyah neighbourhood which killed 57 Iraqis and wounded more than 150. The military said dozens of concrete barriers have been put up around the homes of residents in the district of Dura since Friday "in an attempt to keep terrorists out".

"All vehicles leaving or entering the neighbourhood are stopped at designated checkpoints manned by Iraqi police looking for known terrorists, bomb-making materials and illegal weapons," the military said.

The walls were built as part of Operation Together Forward, an ongoing security plan launched by the security forces in mid-June.

[arcane1]

20. "in an attempt to keep terrorists out" MY ASS!!!

[atreides1]

21. The Dura Ghetto

Wouldn't "Operation Warsaw Ghetto II", been a more factual description?

[Kber]

22. Shades of the Warsaw Ghetto?

Will Muslims of a particular sect be required to relocate to this area now?

Chilling development if you ask me.

[hippiechick]

24. That image crossed my mind, too ...

:scared:

[rodeodance]

23. walls, walls, walls,

[Botany]

25. Please

"All vehicles leaving or entering the neighbourhood are stopped at designated checkpoints manned by
Iraqi police looking for known terrorists, bomb-making materials and illegal weapons," the military said.

"So you got anything in your car?" Iraqi policeman

"Yes, a picture of your wife and baby son." Shi ite rebel.

"Very well sir, carry on." Iraqi policeman

[saigon68]

26. lol

AND SO IT GOES

[ConcernedCanuk]

27. hmm - building walls promotes "freedom and democracy"

.
.
.

I never knew that.

But I's jus a Canuk

Whadda I know ? :shrug:

[damntexdem]

28. Hey, don't call it a walled-off, notoriously-violent district!

Tell the 'happy' story: U.S. troops and 'standing up' Iraqi forces have created Iraq's newest gated community! Sans gates. ;-)

[stepnw1f]

29. Where Were These Permanent Bases Supposed to be Built?

Have the building of these 14 bases been delayed?

[Jacobin]

31. Must be getting our tactics from Israel