Iraq Insurgents Growing 'More Effective'-US General

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bold, innovative insurgency is becoming more effective against U.S. supply lines in Iraq (news - web sites) and explosive attacks have slowed military operations there, a senior American general said on Wednesday.



"They have had a growing understanding that where they can affect us is in the logistics flow," Air Force Lt. Gen. Lance Smith, deputy chief of the U.S. Central Command, told reporters.


"They have gotten more effective in using IEDs," Smith added, referring to improvised explosive devices hidden beside roads by guerrillas fighting U.S.-led forces in Iraq.


"He (the insurgency) is becoming more effective," the general said. "They may use doorbells today to blow these things up. They may use remote controls from toys tomorrow. And as we adapt, they adapt."

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041215/wl_nm/iraq_usa_insurgents_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480

[bemildred]

1. Oh goody, an arms race.

Our stuff costs $10 billion, there stuff costs 10 old Iraqi dinars.
Guess who wins?

(PS: look for this guy to "retire" soon and "spend time with his family.")

[neweurope]

2. But... but I thought that once they had blown Fallujah up beyond

all recognition everything would be just dandy?

Aaaaaaah, and tomorrow remote controls from toys. So dangerous, these sandnigger children! Let's blow 'em all to hell!

--------------

Bush to The Hague

[NNN0LHI]

3. 25 millions sets of eyes watching the every move of 150,000 soldiers 24/7

Next year this time they will now more about us than we know about us.

Don

[cliss]

5. True.

This is what we ran into in VietNam also. This is the fundamental problem with Guerrilla warfare. You have a contingent of insurgents, and you have a local population. There is not a good way of distinguishing between the locals the guerrilla fighters. The local population, in fact, harbors and protects them. One minute, he's there. Blink your eyes, and poof he's gone. The villagers look at the occupiers, smile and shrug their shoulders.

We, on the other hand, are clearly different from the locals. We can be spotted at any time. WE are the ones who can't hide from them. Hence the big weapons at our sides, at all times. Sometimes, in our frustration, we shoot randomly, killing many innocent bystanders. This only increases the rage and hostility of the local population.

Size makes a big difference in these kinds of battles. I've read that the ONLY kind of warfare that the US can not fight is guerrilla warfare, for obvious reasons. We can handle big, marching armies. No problem. Blast them off the face of the earth. Our army is designed for big battles.

But single, one-man units - can't be done.

Also, Lt. General Smith is wrong. He said, "And as we adapt, they adapt. It's actually the reverse.

[yellowcanine]

4. But we are winning so STOP SAYING THAT!

[hatrack]

6. Yes, when it's life and death, those who survive tend to get better at it

Unless, of course, they're civilian officials in the Pentagon.

[tabasco]

7. We warned you about this you freaking idiots.

Anyone with a little military planning experience foresaw what is happening and many warned the Bush aministration.

An even more important development is the apparent increasingly centralized command and control of insurgent operations. The resistance will become more effective and our troops will sustain more casualties. This is not a surprise.

The corrupt administration doesn't really care as the crony corporate CEOs are raking in billions. The people running our country do not care about America, they care only for profits. Sad but true.

Unless the American people stop being intentionally ignorant, only a massive crisis will allow change. My bet is on the massive crisis (economic/social/military).

[Mokito]

8. Me thinks this General is looking for an early retirement

The Bush-junta...You want out? Tell the truth!

[llmart]

9. Oh, this will all stop when we have those......

"fair and democratic elections" in January. Everything will be okey dokey after that. You betcha!

War criminals - Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld

[MichiganVote]

10. Yup. After the invasion of Afghanistan. No, after we neutralize the WMD

No WMD? Ok after the invasion of Iraq. No, that's not it. After the invasion of Iraq. Just a minute, just a minute, after the interim government is established. Damn it, after Saddam Hussein is caught. The reconstruction, the oil, the training of Iraqi troops, the establishment of elections, the elections, after Fallujah, Mosel, Tikrit...

Hold on, we need at least another 56,000 or so troops (dead or alive) to get this thing right. After the next 100 billion in tax dollars, after the ......

Face it folks, this war will continue until after Bush is out of office.

[llmart]

11. Hey, MichiganVote.....

your last statement is simple yet profound and the very truth of the whole matter. This administration is into perpetual war.

[MichiganVote]

12. You at least have got it. Base your future decisions around it.

[annabanana]

13. They NEED the war..

It is their raison d'etre. This adminstration is constructed for the express purpose of generating profit for the, (dare I say it?) Military Industrial Complex.