ATTRITION: Iraqi Terrorists Suffering a Manpower Shortage

Strategy Page ^ | 2006 Apr 10

[Wiz]

April 10, 2006: The enemy in Iraq is having a manpower shortage. This is noted by the reduction in the number of attacks on American troops, and the smaller groups of attackers involved in things like ambushes. This is one of the reasons for the new American policy of fighting it out with ambushes rather than hitting the accelerator. Because of money and recruiting problems, most ambushes in Iraq are conducted by a very small number of attackers. Unlike Vietnam, where the communists might deploy a hundred or so gunmen for an ambush, in Iraq ambush teams are most frequently 5-10 men. This is partially due to the different environment (not much jungle in Iraq) and partially to organizational ones (the enemy was a lot better organized and lot better trained in Vietnam). But mostly, it's a matter of money.

Most of the violence in Iraq is driven by organizations that pay people to participate. These groups have suffered increasing casualties over the last year, and that has resulted in fewer wealthy Sunni Arabs putting up the cash to pay the fighters. The increasing casualties caused by American and Iraqi forces has also discouraged Sunni Arabs from taking the money offered. The work has become too dangerous. The word gets around fast when Abdul and his four buddies all get killed when they tried to ambush some Iraqi police (and got spotted by an American UAV, and hit with a counterattack by Iraqi and American forces). Another problem for the recruiters has been increased use of night vision surveillance cameras by the Americans, and more UAVs available to fly night missions. The larger UAVs carry missiles. This means a few guys setting up a roadside bomb will suddenly disappear in a loud explosion.

[TXBSAFH]

You would figure that their moon god would get tired of making all those virgins.

[Allegra]

There is most definitely a noticeable change from a year ago. From six months ago. From three months ago.

We can actually see peace on the horizon, or at least the beginning of it. We have not seen that before.

It's not over yet, but there is an end in sight now.

Major contributing factors to this have been:

The courage of the people to vote in spite of death threats;
The courage of the government to continue moving forward with putting things in place (yes, there are glitches, but this is new to them and it DOES keep moving forward in spite of what the media portrays);
The refusal of the Shiites and Sunnis to buy into Iran's attempt to start a civil war and the unity that is happening as a result;
The commitment the Iraqi forces have demonstrated to get up to speed and assume the full responsibility of the security of their nation.

This is working!

[W04Man]

Most of the violence in Iraq is driven by organizations that pay people to participate.

SUPPORT OUR VOLUNTEER MILITARY!! FIND YOUR SUPPORT GROUP ON THIS LIST! TroopsSupport.com

Bumpity Bump!

NEW 23" X 35" Posters now available:

http://www.cafepress.com/troopssupport.54049079

[roaddog727]

The MSM and DIMS are deeply saddend.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Most of the violence in Iraq is driven by organizations that pay people to participate.

A-yep. Cut off the money and you cut off the terror.

[Wiz]

ping

[Sundog]

Thanks for your update Allegra.

Your posts help me keep perspective when I hear the chorus put up by the MSM.

Stay safe.

[Garvin]

I think Egypt is planning on sending them more terrorists, see "Egypt frees 900 Islamist militants-(Jamaa Islamiya was responsible for the assassination of Sadat)"

[babydoll22]

Thanks for posting. I have always wondered if we had snipers who roamed at night.

Back when the war started, a number of posters indicated that we owned the night.

I hadn't seen much discussion of this, and wondered if we were not being successful in this area.

However, lately I have seen articles about IEDS blowing up and killing the terrorists before they could be used to kill our troops. I now see what might be causing this.

I find special ops extremely interesting. Would you know of any links to search on this subject?

Again, thanks for the post.

[Allegra]

Your posts help me keep perspective when I hear the chorus put up by the MSM.

It's getting close to the point where the MSM isn't going to be able to conceal the rampant progress that has been made here much longer.

Oh, they still have their IED and VBIED stories so that they can keep up their hyperbolic, distorted reporting, but even those are dwindling. And the Iraqi forces are improving every day and getting a better hold on this. Plus, once the government gets sorted out, I believe we're going to see an even bigger reduction in that terrorism cr@p.

[lemura]

We'll know it's over when economic activity picks up. The thing about capitalism (whether official or black market) is that it isn't linear - it's exponential.

Once the unspoken sense that things are getting under control becomes dominant, millions of individuals making private decisions regarding business/job opportunities will explode in the marketplace.

We can already see it in the number of vehicles on the streets of Baghdad; the next sign will be building activity.

[elfman2]

"These groups have suffered increasing casualties over the last year, and that has resulted in fewer wealthy Sunni Arabs putting up the cash to pay the fighters. The increasing casualties caused by American and Iraqi forces has also discouraged Sunni Arabs from taking the money offered. The work has become too dangerous. The word gets around fast when Abdul and his four buddies all get killed when they tried to ambush some Iraqi police (and got spotted by an American UAV, and hit with a counterattack by Iraqi and American forces). "

This sounds very close to the universal definition of military victory - destroying the enemy’s will to fight

[Allegra]

We can already see it in the number of vehicles on the streets of Baghdad; the next sign will be building activity.

We're already starting to see that. However, the government needs to get nailed down before you start seeing any really significant changes.

Are you here in The Sandbox?

[csmusaret]

By now that Moon God must be down to the ugliest girl in the third grade.

[Sam's Army]

Manpower shortage?

Too many folks for them were getting "fired".

[lemura]

Nope, sitting here in comfortable OC.

[elfman2]

"It's getting close to the point where the MSM isn't going to be able to conceal the rampant progress that has been made here much longer. "

They’re probably holding out for something on the Democrat side to attribute it to, like the removal of a Republican Senate majority, an anti-war speech by Hillary or something preposterous like that.

[elfman2]

"Iraqi Terrorists Suffering a Manpower Shortage"

Jobs Iraqis just won’t do anymore.

[jiggyboy]

The larger UAVs carry missiles. This means a few guys setting up a roadside bomb will suddenly disappear in a loud explosion.

LOL...poof!