I agree regarding types like that Mullah, however I think the delay could be because we don't want to rile the Shias, and because of the Iranian connections. I can understand to a certain degree there's a coin flip involved regarding him.
Want to see him go. He's becoming a major problem already in terms of a public face within Iraq, the Muslim world and over here. The last thing we need is the evil chaos of AQ and Iranian madness to find a safe harbor in such close quarters.
I was wondering about drone and satellite technology and the means to pinpoint more obscure targets (such as groups of individuals). Targeted missle attacks would sound like a viable option then, no?
If memory serves, the Marines have been training for this kind of urban combat since before Kosovo. Tin-foilers were thinking they were for domestic use, and others thought they were for a potential ground war (ha, ha--not with Clinton and Clark) in Yugoslavia. I think, therefore, there is an advantage in using ground forces in this situation, if my memory and assumptions are correct.
This I know I'll be getting some disagreements on--I support the idea of ground in this situation because the savage nature of the incidient begs for this kind of response. I support the idea of some creep walking out of morning prayers and be turned into a grease stain before he opens the door of his Mercedes, however I truly think we need to strike fear and respect in the hearts of the enemy.
I'm confident the Marines will do that. Again, I'm treading somewhat on the ground of emotions here.
Yes, the Marines have been training for urban fighting ("MOUT") but it is well understood that it will involve high casualties. Ranges are so short, and IEDs can be concealed everywhere....
Getting back to Jenin: the IDF understood that IEDs would be hidden all over the place, so they used bulldozers extensively to clear paths, right through homes in many cases. This worked as a tactic, causing the IEDs to come unwired, or blow up harmlessly agains the blade.
But it came at a price: it made that one section of Jenin look like a rubble pile. Those were the pictures of Jenin the world saw.
When the IDF did send troops into alleys and homes, they took very hard casualties as entire squads were sometimes blown up. How can you find every IED, when they can be hidden anywhere? From grenade-sized, to multiple anti-tank mines stacked one on the other?
I don't expect we'll use the big dozers to clear safe paths, it looks too bad on TV. Instead we'll send squads of Marines.... I wish them only success.
But I really wish they were just kept on cordon and sniper duty, while the heavy work was done from the air... missiles they can't see, and can't defend against. Downloaded IDF style, to limit collateral damage. Like it or not, the "media front" is critical, since it can affect the American will to continue the war, or lead to disaffection, low home-front morale, and possibly a (shudder) Kerry victory.