"A February 2004 report published in the Iraqi daily al-Mu'tamar described the resistance that began in Qaim after the war as a mix of local resistance and foreign mujahideen fighters who saw themselves as part of the jihad to establish an Islamic state in Iraq. Much like the state of other cities in Iraq in the weeks and months after the war, Qaim was overrun with criminal gangs and a general absence of law ensued. Police in the town said that they had difficulty recruiting new members to the police force. Resentment against the US military also built among at least some members of the community, where tribal law reportedly supersedes everything else. The subsequent detention of hundreds of local residents by US forces only fueled the insurgency."
"The US military has long noted the difficulty in securing the 725 kilometer Syrian-Iraqi border. Despite the placement of sand berms on either side of the border and Syria's supposed commitment to preventing the illegal crossing of insurgents, the insurgents continue to penetrate the border area, providing a plethora of fighters to replace those detained or killed. Until the border is truly secure, the insurgency will continue."
As someone wrote yesterday, the border between Iraq and Syria is lengthy and can not be secured. This article seems to verify this point.
Also the article above gives the best in-depth recital and explanation of the War and other events in this particular area and the problems they are posing for our military.
Under these present conditions in the region, if Zarqawi is there, can he be captured?
The border will have to be secured. There is no other choice aside from attacking Syria, and I doubt the administration has the will to do that.
Just saw this article was posted to Free Republic while I was posting above article. It is of great interest.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1402041/posts
The line "established a stronghold in Qaim " is a key to this whole process of rounding up the Lions of Islam. They have continuously shown a propensity to buddy-up. As soon as we leave an area for a time they just can't resist the urge to hold a group hug there. Our guys had been in Qaim before---remember the wedding with no bride/no cake/no preacher? This portion of our strategy seems clear and successful enough: wait for them to form a klaven then kill ém off a hundred or so at a time. It's working out just fine!
725 kilometer ~ 450 miles
Quite a stretch to take care of...Would make an easy route for a Spectre Gunship though.
"As someone wrote yesterday, the border between Iraq and Syria is lengthy and can not be secured. This article seems to verify this point."
And it is not only the Syrian border, but the Jordanian, Iranian, Saudi, and Kuwati borders. Clearly close to two thousand mile border line. And the problem is not only that we cannot get a full agreement from all the immediate Iraqi neighbors to the effect they will adequately do their parts on the border crossing issue, but the fact is they simply do not even if each of them agreed in full, have the required means to do so. I mention all the immediate neighbors realizing none of them want to really cooperate in full, to simply illustrate the point. I realize these neighbors are not willing to even contemplate such a mission assuming they had the means to do so. Someone asked me on another post yesterday, how long it would take to stop the incoming insurgency (entry into Iraq by foreign elements). My answer was essentially, a long time. Long after we leave in force. It is simply the nature of the beast. Let us remember that for years the security police and army of Iraq could not stop contraband, smuggling etc., on it's borders. And Al Anbar region has always been a large remote area that beckons anyone wanting to enter Iraq illegally to do so. It really is that simple. No simple solution on this one.