BREAKING: 20 U.S. service members killed in Iraq

YAHOO NEWS ^ | 20 JANUARY 2007 | AP

[TomGuy]

We either fight and win in Iraq

Correction: We either fight and to win in Iraq

But, the rules of engagement have been such that the fight was not to win, but to maintain some level of enforcement. Look at the Fallujah. It took 3 attempts before the 3rd was a serious effort; and it succeeded.

The current endeavour is for a political/diplomatic solution. That will not occur, however, until the troops are allowed to finish the war. We won WWII because the Japanese, and then the Germans surrendered. We didn't rush to a political/diplomatic solution [althought Chamberlain though he did] before the war was won.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I apologize this isn't really "Breaking". It's the MSM reporting the total of those who died throughout the day.

[FlyVet]

Someone correct my post, if it is wrong.

On a local radio talk show this morning, was a man who claimed to be a 16-year special forces officer.

He said we are fighting a loser war in Iraq.

He said there are 40,000 now within the Green Zone, and so many thousands more within the FOBs (Forward Operating Bases).

He said we are fighting this war Vietnam style, a loser strategy. We send our fighters outside the perimeter, to be shot at and exposed to IED's, during daylight, and then they retreat back inside the FOB perimeter at night, allowing the bad guys to retake the city. Over and over, every day. Repeat process, every day.

What he suggested, is that a hard-core Special Forces General be the ground commander, and that our forces go out and take the city, and hold it, night and day. Snipers on the rooftops, patrols, with night vision technology. Fight a guerrilla war like guerrillas, on their level. Except that the hardcore Special Forces commanders have not been invited. If not, why not?

Any thoughts?

[angcat]

Why is this fact so difficult for most people to see?

BDS Bush Derangement Syndrome.

[Son House]

Quote " In south Baghdad, U.S. helicopters dropped Iraqi police commandos into the dangerous Dora neighborhood to stage a raid on the Omar Brigade, an al-Qaida-linked Sunni militant group, Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul-Karim Khalaf said.

Khalaf said 15 insurgents were killed and five captured during an intense battle at two abandoned houses taken over by Sunni gunmen, who he blamed for a series of kidnappings and killings in a bid to cleanse the once-mixed neighborhood of Shiite residents.

"We were provided with helicopter support by our friends in the multinational forces and we did not suffer any casualties," Khalaf said. U.S. aircraft gave covering fire, but the U.S. military did not respond to a request for comment on the raid.

Elsewhere in Baghdad, Iraqi police and hospital officials said a joint U.S.-Iraqi force searched a hospital in the volatile Sunni-dominated western neighborhood of Yarmouk.

" endQuote

The Iraq's still need time to stand up, so that we may stand down. Let's hope it goes well, though we also know we have to prepare to face the worst, which these Soldiers families and freinds are now. May they find peace.

[DCPatriot]

Well, they're not saying what they're doing to the arrested prisoners. And there are no body counts coming out on the opposition.

Sadr is looking for a safe haven because he just lost 400 men.

I think we are kicking ass.

I asked if it was hit by a missle for my own curiosity because to me it begs the question, where did they get the missles? We have seen them used prior. Not with this result.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

The difficulty that we are having now, is that Iraqi citizens voted in their own Sovereign Government. Our presence changed when that day occurred.

It is no longer easy for us to take over with military action. The Kurds are gathering North of Baghdad and some sort of surge will happen very soon, but it also takes time to make preparations.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

No doubt.

[DCPatriot]

Thanks for that.

IOW, we don't know yet. < wink >

[Wolfstar]

George has been disabled by Beltway politics, just like his father every two-term president we've had since the 22nd Amendment was ratified on February 27, 1951. It was a knee-jerk reaction to FDR's four elections, and I understand the rationale. However, it guaranteed that all presidents in their 2nd terms would be severely weakened.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Dreadful. May these heroes all rest in peace. Prayers for the families.

[atomic conspiracy]

Until today, US casualties had been the lowest for any month in almost a year, a third as high as at the same point in the immediately preceding months. Even with this horrible news today, US casualties are far below the same point in December, November, or October. There was not a word about this reduction in the MSM, and still not a word about overall trends.
These beasts are liars on the same scale as Joseph Goebbels when they deny that they misinform the American people to advance a totalitarian agenda. Let them suffer his fate.

[mosquewatch.com]

If we leave and let the Mullahs take control, it will be Iran times 1000. They will gather strength, numbers and technology and go after us till we no longer exist.

If Any Muslim land is around we get this.

[BW2221]

Do you truly believe we are fighting to win (the war, not "minds and hearts")?

[mosquewatch.com]

How many people on this chat forum, actually speak with Muslims, on a daily basis?

And what program do you speak with our Muslim "friends" on?

I'm beginning too believe , not alot of people on this thread, or on FR, have actually even talked with Muslims.

[InvisibleChurch]

in the holy city of Karbala,

So, what's holy about this city?

[Elsiejay]

I've not seen it reported that the helo was shot down. Flying in helicopoters is one of the main ways to get killed accidentally in military service, and the incidence of death (number per 100,000) due to accidental causes in the current combat zone is not greatly different from the incidence of death due to accidents among military personnel posted to bases on U. S. territory, although in the latter venue a high percentage are due to crashes of privately owned automobiles.

[El Gato]

Five U.S. soldiers were killed Saturday night when militia fighters attacked a provincial headquarters in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Karbala, the military said in a statement.

The statement said "an illegally armed militia group" attacked the building with grenades, small arms and "indirect fire," which usually means mortars or rockets. The statement said three other soldiers were wounded repelling the attack.

Time to go seize Mookie. Although if the man had any sense at all, doubtful, he'd have been on the road to Tehran or Oom several hours before this attack took place.

[cyn]

so sorry to read of these latest casualties ... prayers for the families and all who are serving there. Lord, PLEASE give our leaders wisdom to deal effectively with the problems we face at home and abroad ...

[El Gato]

Al-Sadr's followers voiced increasing anger over Friday's capture of a senior aide to the radical cleric in a raid in eastern Baghdad.

Just imagine their anger when we pick up Mookie himself. Just imagine how little I care about their anger.