Posted on 09/24/2006 1:20:31 PM PDT by my_pointy_head_is_sharp
The plan was simple: Iraqi troops would block escape routes while U.S. soldiers searched for weapons house-by-house. But the Iraqi troops didn't show up on time.
When they finally did appear, the Iraqis ignored U.S. orders and let dozens of cars pass through checkpoints in eastern Baghdad - including an ambulance full of armed militiamen, American soldiers said in recent interviews.
(Excerpt) Read more at lasvegassun.com ...
I've read some Antonio Castaneda's stuff. He is no friend of the USA. He focuses on all things negative. I guess in his trade, that allows him to fit right in.
Some Americans said they had seen much better Iraqi troops in the northern cities of Mosul and Tal Afar, which have more Kurdish soldiers. They have been disappointed by the performance of units committed to the Baghdad fight.
That much is probably true.
No doubt the msm are negative and anti-American; but this article quotes American troops and gives their names, including a Colonel. Even the Iraqi General quoted in the article agreed all of the militias are represented in the government, and have double loyalties and cannot be trusted. Trying to turn this snake pit of barbarian tribal peoples into a safe, democratic government is like shoveling the proverbial $#!+ against the tide.
Many governments have had the same problem. The only solution is to take soldiers and police from one area and put them in a different region, away from friends and family.
Where did this happen? New Jersey?
No wonder!
I agree with or at least recognize the possible validity of all the points you made, but I was probably not clear in my point. I did not say that what he says is not factual...but one can present a variety of facts in such a way to make a point, and the point may or may not be factual.
From what I have seen, his points in nearly everything I have read dwell on the negative. That's all.
MSMBS
Exactly correct. How this is not completely obvious to everyone at this point is simply beyond me.
Attempting to build "Islamic democracy" in Iraq was a mistake from moment one.
People can refuse to see this but, at the end of the day, the United States will not succeed in building anything we would recongize as "democracy" in the hellhole that is Iraq. Sadly, Bush has effectively destroyed his presidency with this fools errand.
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