U.S. Gambles in Handing Security to Iraqis

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050810/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_back_again&cid=540&ncid=1480

CAMP SYKES, Iraq - Nearly a year ago, U.S. forces swarmed through Tal Afar, killing enough insurgents for the local police chief to declare the city insurgent-free. Now the militants are back, and the United States has moved in more soldiers to drive them out.

The story of Tal Afar, an ethnically diverse city located near Camp Sykes and about 40 miles from the Syrian border, underscores the gamble Washington will be making by turning over large areas of the country to Iraqi control so U.S. soldiers can begin going home next year.

When the insurgents were driven from Tal Afar, the United States scaled back. But the small number of U.S. soldiers remaining — along with the new Iraqi soldiers — were unable to prevent the insurgents from returning.

"The enemy had sensed a reduction of U.S. forces," said Col. H.R. McMaster, commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which was rushed here from Baghdad, 260 miles to the southeast, earlier this year.

... :eyes:

[Barrett808]

1. Vote this up! 2.5/5 with 19 votes n/t

[endarkenment]

2. "The enemy"

looked out the doors of their houses and noticed that the foreign fighters had packed up and returned to their big-ass bases. Their friends in the Iraqi military and police confirmed that it was safe to come out of their homes again.

What was the original estimate for troop strength actually required to occupy all of Iraq? 300,000? 500,000?

[sabra]

3. reco'd and a kick

this is a growing pattern in Iraq...

[cliss]

4. I take such offense to this kind of wording:

"...the local police chief declares the city insurgent-free".

As if the insurgents are bugs, and the US moves in like Raid to spray the pesky critters.

Well, it didn't work very well did it?

The US is so delusional in its reasoning. I can just see the Police Chief. He knows the Americans, by now. He knows that you just "put up a good show, and they'll buy it". They have a parade called "We're free of Insurgents". General Miller stands by, nodding his head and smiling.

Later that evening, they put on little skits on how the town was "cleaned up" by the US forces.

Miller thanks the chief for "helping Democracy" move along.

[bemildred]

5. "Prays" is more like. nt

[bribri16]

6. This is NOT a "gamble." We don't care! We want out!!

That's what this is all about. The Iraqis have been running their country for years before our sanctions and before there was an Iraq this was the cradle of civilization. Marauding infidels came, saw, conquered and ruined.