AP: US Forces Wrap Up Major Offensive; Pronounce It A Success

[Hissyspit]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBDFV1YQ8E.html

May 15, 2005

U.S. Forces Wrap Up Major Offensive Near Syrian Border Pronouncing It a Success
By Mohammed Barakat
Associated Press Writer

OBEIDI, Iraq (AP) - The U.S. military wrapped up a major offensive in a remote desert region near the Syrian border Saturday, saying it had cleaned out the insurgent haven and killed more than 125 militants during the weeklong campaign against followers of Iraq's most wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Secretary of State of Condoleezza Rice, meanwhile, arrived in Iraq on Sunday on a surprise one-day trip. She flew to the mountain stronghold of Kurdish Democratic Party leader Massoud Barzani to discuss the new government's upcoming tasks, including writing a constitution.

Nine U.S. Marines were killed and 40 injured during Operation Matador - one of the largest American campaigns since militants were driven from Fallujah six months ago. The number of civilian casualties was not immediately known.

- snip -

Rival groups of insurgents also were fighting among themselves around Qaim, trading mortar, rocket and machine gun fire almost nightly, Pool said. Residents acknowledged fighting in Qaim and surrounding villages began before the U.S. offensive, characterizing it as tribal clashes.

- snip -

A 30-year-old detainee detained as a "security threat" at southeastern Iraq's Camp Bucca prison died of a heart attack Saturday, the U.S. military said. An investigation is underway into his death, the military said. Camp Bucca holds more than 6,000 Iraqi detainees.

AP-ES-05-15-05 0325EDT

[LynnTheDem]

1. Yes. Quite the "catastrophic success". Until next week.

And the week after that. And the week after that. And the week after that.

[Hissyspit]

2. Maybe it WAS a 'success,' but who could tell?!!?

They spin EVERYTHING so much, you can't believe anything they say.

[LynnTheDem]

5. Too true.

But just going by our "success" rate so far, I'd guess this one was a huge whopping failure, with the only "successful" part being how many new insurgents have been created due to all the civilian deaths and overwhelming hatred of the US by the actions of the US forces.

Osama bin Laden certainly would call this a "success".

[NeoConsSuck]

6. Talk about spin..

my local Fox news in Albany, NY is now referring to the insurgents as anti-Iraqi forces. LOL!!

Silly me, here I thought the insurgents might be anti-occupation patriots.

[bluestateguy]

3. The Tet Offensive was a military victory for the US

so was the Battle of Anteitam.

[DrDebug]

4. It's always a success

It's never a failure

Condi is there right now to dictate eh help on the constitution

[Hissyspit]

7. "Win The Battle, Lose The War"

[cornermouse]

8. They (the military) can say anything they want.

We literally have no idea what the truth is. Our media either cannot or will not tell us.

[bowens43]

10. I assume if the military or the administration says it,

it's a lie.

[bowens43]

9. 'Mission accomplished'

[catnhatnh]

11. 9 of ours,125 of theirs...

...children can you say "kill ratio"? Good, I knew that you could...Remember that when Vietnam turned desperate and no good news or "end of the tunnel lights" could be found,, the last lame PR move was to trot out kill ratios as "proof" we were winning....Welcome back...