Iraqis losing grip on a strategic area

Boston Globe ^ | 4/1/2003 | Colin Nickerson

[RJCogburn]

The war in northern and southern Iraq is playing out on television screens around the world. But in the vast western desert between Baghdad and the Jordanian border, the campaign is being waged -- and apparently won -- in secrecy and stealth.

[BunnySlippers]

Huzzah! Bump.

[bucephalus]

I think what we think is going on and what is really going on are worlds apart. The military is probably happy to let the Press press its case for shortterm doom in order to ensure our longterm success. Makes me wonder what is going on.

[Straight Vermonter]

There is a constant but elusive buzz about what is going on out west. The Agonist.com has a map showing that we have an entire (unidentified) mechanized corps in the west.

This was percolating in my brain as I listened to Secretary Rumsfeld on the Sunday talk shows repeatedly refer to the warplan as "creative and innovative". I think our folks have done a great job thus far but what has been creative or innovative? The "left hook" from Gulf War I was creative. A charge up the river route to Baghdad is not creative.

Stay tuned.

[walden]

"I think what we think is going on and what is really going on are worlds apart."

Bingo. I can't wait to read a really good book that puts the whole thing in perspective.

[Pikachu_Dad]

1) Starting the war without bombing prep.
2) Starting the war without 4thID.
3) Bypassing their strong points to get to Baghdad (oasis hopping).
4) Bombing with precisions munitions and leaving the infrastructure inplace - bridges, power, water, etc.

there must be others. very inovative in my view.

[Claire Voyant]

Geesh...Even Tim Russert on Imus now is practically saying we're losing. And he just told a lie about Turkey's parliament voting AGAINST us. ACTUALLY the majority was with us, but the law said he had to be a certain % of those present, and that's where it broke down.

NEVER ....EVER....TRUST A DEMOCRAT!!!!

[AFPhys]

A great perspective on the hidden, western front, part of this war --- the part we are all going to have to wait for a couple of years, maybe, to find out about.