US Soldier regarding current situation in Iraq: "It is a much more scary out there"

[sabra]

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/09/12/357159.aspx

<snip>

A sophisticated trap

They had been working in one of the Baghdad neighborhoods considered a hotbed of insurgents. At 3:30 a.m. they took up positions in a house to observe the area. Toward daybreak they heard somebody break in the house. When they went to check if the person was carrying a weapon, they saw a man with a gun run out. It turned out to be a sophisticated trap.

Just as the men went out to pursue the armed man, one of the soldiers stepped on a hidden bomb that had been placed right where the insurgents knew the troops would go. He was the one with the extensive injuries. Many others were knocked unconscious from the blow.

Just at that moment dozens of insurgents opened fire from positions well planned in advance. It was amazing that with some of the platoon returning fire and the arrival of a quick reaction force, no one was killed or injured more.

One of the soldiers, on his third tour of duty in Iraq, said the situation has changed dramatically. "It used to be they would fire at us and run away," he said. "Now we are facing an enemy that plans ahead and stays to fight. It is a much more scary out there."

[againes654]

1. But we have to stay the course

Or is it "the surge is working". :sarcasm:

[frogcycle]

2. How is it that

the bad guys are learning new tactics, getting better and better at their trade, while the Iraqi Army remains incompetant and unteachable?

Are only the dumb ones on "our side?"

[tuckessee]

3. Motivation.

And the underdogs have a much more lean, result-oriented, purposeful command structure that is less influenced by money and therefore less corrupt.

It's kinda like Vietnam all over again. The US proxies (ARVN) folded like a cheap suit while the NVA/VC were writing new chapters on innovative guerilla warfare.

[frogcycle]

4. yep

Kind of goes without saying. I left my sarcasm open-ended even though that answer is pretty obvious. The important point that the bushies refuse to acknowledge is that the failures of the Iraqi govt and army to live up to THEIR expectations are no excuse to continue to stay there and demand that they do.

They COULD be fully ready to handle their own security; they just don't choose to be. And they can govern themselves in their own way. Have been doing so for 5000 years!

We are being played for suckers, and we are sacrificing our people on the alter of gwb's hubris.

[Dark]

5. The tide is turning. But not in our favor. n/t