U.S. Sees Samarra as a Model Operation

[Barrett808]

U.S. Sees Samarra as a Model Operation
The strategy for quelling city's insurgents is not a one-size-fits-all solution, general says. Skeptics question its success.
By Edmund Sanders, Times Staff Writer

SAMARRA, Iraq — The bullets had barely stopped flying here when a convoy of military engineers braved the deserted streets this week to begin rebuilding water pumps, electricity lines and roads.

It was risky business. At the first checkpoint, a skittish Iraqi national guardsman fired a warning shot. Then, U.S. tanks accidentally ran over and mangled new aluminum electricity cables awaiting installation.

Fearful that patrolling U.S. soldiers would mistake them for insurgents and open fire, workers refused to return to the local water treatment plant until they received a hastily scribbled authorization note from a U.S. commander.

Moving so quickly with reconstruction projects in a chaotic combat zone where residents dared travel only with white flags may seem overly eager, but it's part of an evolving U.S. military strategy to oust insurgents in Iraq and restore stability before January's election.

The new model — previewed in Najaf this summer and fine-tuned in Friday's invasion of this predominantly Sunni Muslim city — comes after a string of failed U.S. efforts over the last year to quell insurgents in other hot spots, including Fallouja, Ramadi and Baghdad's Sadr City.

(more)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-model6oct06,1,3179438.story?coll=la-headlines-world

[Maple]

1. They thought that

everytime they took a hill in Vietnam too.

[Tempest]

2. Alternative headline

Bush Sees the Massacre Of Civilians as a Model Operation

[Moderator]

3. Duplicate topic

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