NYT-Provincial Capital Near Falluja Is Rapidly Slipping Into Chaos(Ramadi)

[maddezmom]

RAMADI, Iraq, Oct. 21 -The American military and the interim Iraqi government are quickly losing control of this provincial capital, which is larger and strategically more important than its sister city of Falluja, say local officials, clerics, tribal sheiks and officers with the United States Marines.

"The city is chaotic," said Sheik Ali al-Dulaimi, a leader of the region's largest tribe. "There's no presence of the Allawi government," he added, speaking of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

While Ramadi is not exactly a "no go" zone for the marines, like the insurgent stronghold of Falluja 30 miles to the east, officers say it is fast slipping in that direction. In the last six weeks, guerrillas have stepped up the pace of assassinations of Iraqis working with the Americans, and marine officials say they suspect Iraqi security officers have been helping insurgents to attack their troops. Reconstruction efforts have ground to a halt because no local contractors are willing to work.

Most of the military's resources are channeled into controlling a bomb-infested, four-and-a-half-mile stretch of road that runs through downtown and connects two bases. Insurgents pop out of alleyways, mosques and a crowded market and fire at marines at will, then disappear when the Americans give chase.

more:http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/28/international/middleeast/28ramadi.html?hp&ex=1098936000&en=bc48eb69af4d1e7c&ei=5094&partner=homepage

It's a long article, but worth the read....

[lovuian]

1. What a freakin Mess!!! Agree with Kerry

We don't know what the hell is going to be on his desk when he becomes the New President!!!

[grytpype]

2. We're losing another city.

And it's worse than Fallujah.

Bush fucked us but good.

[mike_c]

3. "we" never had those cities to lose....

Occupation does not mean ownership. We should expect to "lose" every city in Iraq.

[grytpype]

4. Shiva H. Vishnu! Read the whole thing!!!!

excerpts:

While Ramadi is not exactly a "no go" zone for the marines, like the insurgent stronghold of Falluja 30 miles to the east, officers say it is fast slipping in that direction. In the last six weeks, guerrillas have stepped up the pace of assassinations of Iraqis working with the Americans, and marine officials say they suspect Iraqi security officers have been helping insurgents to attack their troops. Reconstruction efforts have ground to a halt because no local contractors are willing to work.

Most of the military's resources are channeled into controlling a bomb-infested, four-and-a-half-mile stretch of road that runs through downtown and connects two bases. Insurgents pop out of alleyways, mosques and a crowded market and fire at marines at will, then disappear when the Americans give chase.

...

Compounding the problems, guerrillas have been streaming in since the marines stepped up airstrikes against the mujahedeen in Falluja, Marine officials say.

[Jacobin]

5. Looks like they want their country back

Can't say as I blame them.

[maddezmom]

6. I know how they feel....

JK must WIN!

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Front-page NYT -- thanks for posting, mm --

Mods: article date is misprint; it's actually dated today, 10/28.

[RaulGroom]

8. Amazing how low they've set the bar

Look at the quoted text. The pace of assassinations? In a country that is even remotely approaching stable, there is no "pace" of assassinations; they're isolated events. In Ramadi, clearly assassinations have been occurring regularly. But only when the "pace" of those assassinations increases do we learn the place is slipping out of control.

Makes one wonder about all the cities that are supposedly IN control.