Posted on 11/01/2007 4:42:07 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2007 The number of explosively formed penetrators, a particularly deadly form of improvised explosive device, is down in Iraq, a top coalition commander said today.
However, it is unclear whether Iran has slowed shipments of the deadly weapons into Iraq or not, Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said from his headquarters of Multinational Corps Iraq in Baghdad.
In October, coalition forces encountered 53 explosively formed projectiles: 30 explosions and 23 found before they exploded. In September, the number was 52, while coalition forces encountered 78 projectiles in August. In July, forces encountered 99 of the deadly devices. Odierno said July was the apex of the weapons emplacement in Iraq.
I will say that although we still have, in my mind, way too many explosively formed projectiles, in the last three months, that has been on a downward trend, but it's still at a high level, he said.
The recent coalition discovery of a huge stockpile of explosively formed projectiles in Diyala province still does not shed light on Iranian participation in killing American troops. Soldiers found more than 100 projectiles already made and the fixings for hundreds more. Odierno said analysts could not tell if the shipment was new in the country or not.
It's unclear yet to me whether they have slowed down bringing in weapons and supporting the insurgency or not, he said. I'll still wait and see.
What could be the reason for Iran slowing shipments of these weapons (if indeed they are slowing the shipment)?
Or are our forces simply doing a better job of sealing off the supply lines form Iran to its operatives in Iraq?
Because we’re killing the pricks who use them and the locals are turning the caches.
Ain’t it sweet when a plan comes together?
ping
Exactly!!
According to reports I read on FR, Quds operatives in Iraq were pulled out a few months ago out of fear that they'd be captured in Surge operations. I think this accounts for the dramatic decrease in violence at that time (i.e. there was never a civil war). And it could also account for fewer weapons from Iran - no Quds to manage the Iraqi side of the supply line.
Good news!!!
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