U.S.: Fewer Attacks Since Saddam Capture

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Guerrilla attacks on the 150,000 U.S.-led coalition soldiers in Iraq (news - web sites) have dropped sharply since the Dec. 13 capture of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), and the number of troops killed and wounded has plummeted as well.

The figures appear to show the capture of Saddam has taken some of the sting out of the Iraqi insurgency. But one top U.S. military official said guerrilla attacks were already on the decline before Saddam was found hiding in a coffin-sized bunker near his hometown of Tikrit.

"We were starting to see the decrease in the attacks prior to the capture of Saddam," said Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, a deputy commander of the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division. He also said casualties have not declined in the capital, Baghdad.

Fifty-two coalition troops were killed and 159 wounded in the four weeks before Saddam's capture, Nov. 13 to Dec. 12.

In following four weeks, to Jan. 13, the figures dropped to 37 soldiers killed and 128 wounded, U.S. military officials in Baghdad said Tuesday. That amounts to 29 percent fewer deaths and 20 percent fewer combat injuries.

The slump in combat casualties comes alongside a 22 percent drop in attacks on American-led forces in those four weeks. The attacks include any type of hostile action including small-arms fire, roadside bombs, mines, rocket-propelled grenades and car bombs.

According to U.S. military figures, insurgent attacks against coalition forces declined to an average of 18 a day in the past four weeks, compared to 23 a day in the four weeks before Saddam's capture. Most of the attacks are believed carried out by supporters of the ousted regime.

At the Pentagon (news - web sites), Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it was too early to tell whether the drop in attacks and casualties was "something that is going to remain or not."

While opinions differ on Saddam's role in the insurgency and whether his capture caused any rebels to give up, most U.S. officials who have spoken publicly agree on one benefit: More Iraqis are willing to provide intelligence on the insurgency. Military officials have said many Iraqis are no longer worried about the possibility of Saddam returning.

"The information we're receiving from those who are no longer fearful is helping us in our raids," said Lt. Col. Dan Williams, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad. "The information is leading us right to them."

A total of 495 American troops have been killed since the war began in March, with most deaths occurring since President Bush (news - web sites) declared an end to major combat on May 1.

The decline isn't universal, most notably in Baghdad. Hertling said the 1st Armored Division has seen a steady number of attacks there even since Saddam's capture.

"From the Baghdad perspective, we've been staying about the same in casualties," he said.

Also bucking a national trend, guerrillas in Baghdad are using larger makeshift bombs that combine bigger artillery shells and plastic explosive, Hertling said. Elsewhere, U.S. military officials have said bombs hidden along Iraq's roadways have gotten smaller, simpler and less effective.

"We're trying to figure out exactly why there has been a preponderance of larger shells and (plastic explosive)," Hertling said.

But 1st Armored has gotten some benefits from Saddam's arrest. Names on documents captured with the deposed dictator led coalition troops to arrest a slew of suspects. Information gleaned in their interrogations led to even more arrests.

Since the mid-November, 1st Armored has arrested almost 600 members of Baghdad's estimated 14 guerrilla cells, including senior leaders and financiers.

"We were able to disrupt several cells in Baghdad," Hertling said. "We've got a few of them disrupted at the senior level and others we've affected at the lower level, by capturing or killing some of the lower level guys."

As for Saddam, the CIA (news - web sites) is interrogating him. Hertling declined to specify whether 1st Armored had found any of his recent statements useful.

"They're still exploiting him, interrogating him and getting more intelligence," Hertling said.

Thanks, o_c. The best news, but perhaps not yet a trend (Rummyspeak). (^:

According to today's Pentagon briefing, over 200,000 Iraqis are now handling security work in Iraq, more than Coalition troops.

After the attack on Log Base Seitz and the downing of the Apache last week, the troops were very busy...good intel from locals, removed plenty of weapons and bad guys...leading up to the quietest weekend I remember. Not even the promise of being the lead story on the Sunday News shows emboldened the remaining bad guys to attack our troops.

Good news.

Yet, my "news" was full of the same old mainstream doom and gloom.

Regime change needed in America's free press.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.