Yeah, yeah, but how the heck do we pronounce it?
Well it's an astrological symbol with a trumpet-like thing pointing right and an arrowtip.
VenusBlowsDown
Posted on 01/10/2005 1:43:34 PM PST by Bob Hyneman
From Multinational Force headquarters:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/media-information/January/050110e.htm ******* [quote][size=18]Weekly Operations Summary for January 2 - 9, 2005[/size]
Baghdad, Iraq – During operations over the past week, Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF) forces - discovered and cleared 97 improvised explosive devices, - discovered and cleared 87 weapons caches, - conducted 63 cordon and searches of suspected anti-Iraqi forces facilities, - conducted 35 raids on a suspected anti-Iraqi forces facilities and - detained 771 suspected AIF. Major operational successes this past week include:
- Iraqi National Guard Soldiers and Multi-National Forces foiled a car bomb attempt and found a very large cache of weapons and munitions during operations in Mosul containing 15 artillery rounds, four fuel containers, and a large propane tank. They were able to disarm the fully prepared car bomb before it was used to harm innocent people. While searching the area the Iraqi National Guardsmen also found a large cache of weapons and munitions which included 93 mines, 88 artillery rounds, 5 rocket propelled grenade launchers, 34 RPG rounds, 17 grenades, 1000 feet of detonation cord, eight AK-47s, over 10,000 rounds of ammunition and roadside bomb-making components. A total of six anti-Iraq forces were detained in that operation.
- An Iraqi civilian’s call to a tips hotline led Iraqi policemen to a rocket launch site in Baghdad. The Iraqi policemen disassembled the launcher and destroyed the explosives.
In partnership with the Iraqi government, the Multi-National Force - Iraq conducts full spectrum counter-insurgency operations to isolate and neutralize former regime extremists and foreign terrorists. The Force also organizes, trains and equips Iraqi security forces to create a security environment that allows all Iraqi people to live in peace.
Release #050110e[/quote] *********
Would you say that a.) the Insurgents had planned things this way, - or - b.) the insurgency poorly-planned?
What a quagmire for the insurgents. What is their exit strategy now?
FACT: If 716 American forces were captured in one-week [size=24]NOBODY[/size] would shrug it off as "well we still got lots more Americans."
FACT: if truckload after truckload of AMERICAN weapons had been captured it would be (accurately) protrayed as a HUGE victory for the insurgents and NOBODY would shrug it off saying "Well we still go lots more weapons."
FACT: We are kicking butt If this had happend to 716 American troops the would have pre-empted the playoffs. The analsyis would have been "the fact that the insurgents can pull this off shows that we are losing . . porly planned . . . overly optmistic . . .no exit strategy."
Here's what I find hard to imagine.
- Imagine a country where sunni arabs make up some 10-15% of the population. - Now imagine a factionalized (ie a pro-saddam faction and a pro-UBL faction) uprising among some small portion of that 10-15%. - Now imagine that BOTH of those faction are so unpoular among the 10-15% sunni arab minority that they have to wear masks when the conduct raids because their sunni-arab neighbors are turning them in every chance they get.
Here's the hard part: - Now try to imagine the insugency will be successful. try to imagine that without some larger neighboring country staging an outright invasion that the factionalized uprising of a small percent of 10-15% of the populaiton will ever rule the country.
Extra Credit for LSD users: - Since the 60-65% Shia majority lives in the South and most of Iraq's oil reserves are in the North try to imagine the Shia majority allowing their country to be split into pieces cutting them off from their own oil.
And finally: - Imagine that in a single weekend those insurgents capture 110 Ameican foot soldiers, 6 major officers and make off with truckload after truckload of American weapons and ammo. (Because this is exactly what WE did to THEM this weekend). I imagine that such an occurrence would be all over the front page and would be (correctly) treated as "proof positive" that the Americans are bunch of poorly-planning bumblers who don't have snowball's chance of success.
- Now try to imagine it being portrayed any other way. Try to imagine any analist shrugging it off saying "Oh that doesn't mean much we've still got lots of other soldiers and lots of other ammo. It doesn't mean we are going to lose"
Can you smell the victory?
I'd make it MikebackfromIraq
thanks :)
How exactly do you sustain an insurgency among a largely hostile population and no good supply lines?
The best guess is that they are getting all their supplies from ammo dumps that aren't getting replaced. They are running a nonsustainable campaign.
Sure, they'll be able to smuggle in a few arms from surrounding countries once the ammo dumps are destroyed or used up. But at that point, it's hard to see how the insurgency will be much more than an annoying bunch of rock-throwers.
that's a good one :)!!!
Now there's an idea. Why not have some of our troops pose as reporters, with weapons concealed in fake cameras, and when they set up the mortars the troops blast them all!
I know, I can hear the objections now..."...that would put reporters in danger, because maybe the "insurgents" wouldn't trust them anymore and might start shooting reporters on sight..."
And the downside to this is.....?
He bought the UN. To bad he didn't bury it too.
Noooo…. They don’t think like that. They know we can capture people. And they also know that we “can’t” keep them due to our domestic and political opposition. The 700 captured doesn’t phase them. With the 3 warm meals a day in a comfy red cross inspected US run prisons and quick releases, there’s no comparison so there’s nothing to be “IMAGINED”.
I’d just be happy with military tribunals and executions for awhile and then see how it goes.
LOL! I don't get any network TV (I'm on Dish Network), but I sure would like to watch the Dan Blather show tonight.
I understand he'll be apologizing to President Bush for attempting to smear his character...</sarcasm>
"MeAndGeorgeAndOurBuddiesConqueredIraq"
Hmmmm...good content, but it just don't roll off the tongue...lol...
LOL
hmmmm.......
thats going on the list too!!! :)
Yeah, yeah, but how the heck do we pronounce it?
Well it's an astrological symbol with a trumpet-like thing pointing right and an arrowtip.
VenusBlowsDown
Mr. Rather evidently has taken the night off. See Drudge...
Heh heh.
Mike In/Out Iraq
LOL
well I normally dont know if I am coming or going...LOL
How about MikeTheHero?
Thanks for your service.
nah I'm no hero....
not anymore than anyone else and certainly less than any soldier over there, especially the fallen ones....
The news from Iraq, outside of this report, seems to be quite worrying today.....my impression for what it's worth. I guess this is due to how dynamic the situation is.
'BackFromIraq' has a real ring to it...
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.