Pentagon Sets Steps to Pacify Iraq Rebel Sites

New York Times ^ | Oct. 7 2004 | By ERIC SCHMITT and THOM SHANKER

[Jet Jaguar]

Pentagon planners and military commanders have identified 20 to 30 towns and cities in Iraq that must be brought under control before nationwide elections can be held in January, and have devised detailed ways of deciding which ones should be early priorities, according to senior administration and military officials.

Recent military operations to quell the Iraqi insurgency in Tal Afar, Samarra and south of Baghdad are the first and most visible signs of the new, six-pronged strategy for Iraq, approved at the highest levels of the Bush administration, the officials said. While elements of the plan have been discussed in generalities recently, the officials described it in much more detail, calling it a comprehensive guideline to their actions in the next few months.

[oolatec]

I don't want to know anything about this plan until after it has been successful...

[Dilbert56]

That's the difference between the candidates. Kerry says there are "no go" areas so you can't have elections. Let's call France and the UN and see if they have any ideas. This President is leader. He believes you overcome obstacles. Make them "go" areas. You have until January. Hell, if our troops kill all the scum, maybe the panty waists at the UN can come back and sponge off the blood of the coalition soldiers.

[drhogan]

but does this pass the GLOBAL TEST???!!!

[spectre]

I'll believe they are serious when the Pentagon uses the words "crush" or "obliterate" in place of "pacify".

[freestyle]

I was wondering if they checked the "no go" areas for WMD?