Posted on 02/16/2007 8:03:07 PM PST by jmc1969
After eight long months of heated, block-to-block combat in one of Iraq’s deadliest cities, U.S. troops have broken a years-long stalemate between coalition forces, local insurgents and Islamic militants, according to the departing coalition commander.
Citing a counterinsurgency strategy borrowed from the battle for Tal Afar — as well as a breakdown of alliances between former Saddam regime Baathists and al-Qaida in Iraq fighters — Col. Sean MacFarland said his troops made “phenomenal” progress in the battle for Ramadi.
“We’ve gone from a stalemate to a clear movement toward ultimate success,” said MacFarland, commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, based in Friedberg, Germany.
The signs of progress include the appointment of a mayor; the creation from scratch of a 4,500-strong Iraqi police force; a 50 percent drop in mortar, rocket and roadside bomb attacks; and, perhaps most significant, a complete reversal of relations between U.S. troops and local tribes.
Initially, the brigade counted two local tribes that were friendly toward the unit and a dozen who were openly hostile and supportive of the insurgency. Today, those numbers are reversed.
“The key indicator is really the shift in tribal dynamics,” MacFarland said. “Ultimately, the tribes have come aboard our side.”
“In Tal Afar, Ramadi and Hit, the Ready First helped liberate a million Iraqis. They killed or captured more enemy fighters than [the number of] Americans killed in 9/11. They made a significant impact in the war on terror.”
(Excerpt) Read more at estripes.com ...
Another under-reported story of success in Iraq.
I curse the MSM for their treason.
Max Friedman, Vietnam correspondent, 1970
In your stretched Face Peloser! Our Troops will Win w/o you TraitorcRats!! An entire city freed, no thanks to you.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
The middle of the story appears to be missing.
Things were/are tough but improvements are literally being made everyday. When we got to Ramadi, there was no city government. Soon we will have a mayor and city council. The water, sewage, electricity, and trash guys are now showing back up to work. The Iraqi Police in our area have doubled and one tribe has their IPs walking their streets to protect them, as it should be. The first city coucil meeting, I am going to try to blare it to the world. That scares the insurgents more than any weapon system.
“In Tal Afar, Ramadi and Hit, the Ready First helped liberate a million Iraqis. They killed or captured more enemy fighters than [the number of] Americans killed in 9/11. They made a significant impact in the war on terror.”
[Emphasis added]
Good point. No thanks to the CowardcRats!
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
Thanks for this crucial posting. The fact that Iraqi police and local tribesmen can combine to protect their city is a major victory in the war against terrorism.
They now have a vested interest in keeping their police and city/homes safe and a viable place to live. This worked in Vietnam, and the Philippines, and now Iraq.
Now if we could only get the police and the citizens of America to protect us from the Democrats.
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