My prediction: the next phase of the war in Iraq will be won primarily
with information rather than weaponry or manpower. After four years, we have surely mapped out every residence in the Baghdad region, with knowledge about who lives there, where their political sympathies lie, where they work, who their friends are, who they call on their cell phones, what books they borrow from the library, what satellite channels they watch, what kind of vehicle they drive, where they typically drive it. Once we have the multidimensional version of "Google Baghdad", with real-time viewing and other forms of monitoring, we've got their number.
Mapped out 5 million residents of Baghdad including Mookie's Sadr City slum?
I highly doubt anyone has been sitting and mapping out 5 million residents.
That doesn't mean that actionable intel is coming in and available. But if our great Gen. Petreaus goes after the bad guys, does Malicki and the Shite led government start complaining?
That's my concern. That and the fact that Shites are waiting us out to finish their vengence on the Sunni butchers who have set blowing up civilian outdoor markets as their political tool of choice.
Count me as getting fed up. I'm going to give the General my support and prayers in the interim. If he can't reverse the tide, no one can.