U.S. Learning in Iraq, Officials Say

The Los Angeles Times ^ | April 27, 2005 | Mark Mazzetti

[kellynla]

WASHINGTON — The ability of Iraqi insurgents to attack U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians has remained constant over the last year, but American forces are slowly gaining better intelligence about them, top Pentagon officials said Tuesday.

After a lull that followed Iraq's national election in January, the Pentagon has acknowledged that there has been a recent surge in attacks. Arms and money continue to flow to guerrillas, ensuring that they remain a potent force, officials say.

"I think their capacity stays about the same, and where they are right now is where they were almost a year ago," said Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

At the same time, both Myers and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said more Iraqis were providing valuable intelligence, helping U.S. and Iraqi forces hunting for insurgent leaders.

"As the political process goes forward and as the economic progress goes forward, there's going to be more intelligence coming from Iraqis, and their insurgency will have a more difficult time and it will be losing more people," Rumsfeld said during a briefing he and Myers held with reporters.

Myers cited a February raid in which U.S. troops came close to capturing Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian widely thought to be leading insurgent attacks in Iraq, and raids last week in which U.S. and Iraqi forces rounded up 10 guerrillas they believe were responsible for shooting down a helicopter Thursday, killing 11 civilians, including six Americans.

"I think in general the intelligence is getting better. Having said that, we still don't have Zarqawi," Myers said.

Rumsfeld and Myers said that the level of insurgent violence — roughly 40 to 50 attacks per day — was comparable to 12 months ago.

[kellynla]

I will look for the transcript of Rummy's press conference but if anyone else finds it, I would appreciate you posting it to this thread. As the LAT is not the least credible source in newspaper journalism. Semper Fi, Kelly

[kellynla]

I meant to say "LAT is the least credible source in newspaper journalism today!"

[hauerf]

How dare you demean the LA Times!

The truth is that every former subscriber knows the Times is the finest socialist fish wrapper in the southern half of California.

[kellynla]

;-]

[Logical me]

If this is any consolation, the reason the attacks have stepped up is because the Iraqis with the US forces are closing in. Like a cornered rat, they will push a last gasp before death. There is no mistake that the continued attacks on their very own people was a serious mistake. I think the Iraqi people are now realizing that they will have to provide better intelligence to survive themselves.