Attacks may reshape U.S. strategy

[SilasSoule]

Political pressure grows on Bush administration

Nov. 3 — Twice in the past two weeks, the Iraqi opposition has hit high-profile U.S. targets that had been largely beyond its reach, an escalation that may prove more significant strategically than tactically because of the increased political pressure it puts on the Bush administration.

YESTERDAY’S HAND-HELD missile attack on an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter, which killed 16 soldiers and wounded 20, was the first lethal downing of a U.S. aircraft in Iraq since last spring’s war. That attack followed by just a week a sophisticated rocket assault on the Baghdad hotel inside U.S. lines where Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz was staying. That came on top of lethal bombings of the U.N. headquarters in the capital and then that of the Red Cross.

<snip>

But Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld expressed confidence yesterday that the latest attacks would not undercut public support for the U.S. presence in Iraq.
"I think the American people have a good center of gravity,” he said on ABC’s “This Week.” “I think they get it. They see that terrorism is a threat in this world. They would rather have us fighting terrorists outside of the United States of America than inside the United States of America. They know that what’s taking place is tragic when you have a day like yesterday. But they also know it’s necessary.”


more: http://www.msnbc.com/news/988315.asp?0cv=CA00

[Holly]

1. They are

about six months too late with a statagey.

[LastKnight]

2. WOAH!

we had a strategy?

they damn well better reshape it cause whatever is goin on now aint cuttin the junk.

-LK

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. Expect the CrusadeNets to report more Iraqi casualties

That is what the voting class wants to see.

Upping the allowed US casualty drip was inevitable, since so many journalists in Iraq remain alive and at large, and eliminating them is certainly a priority, but the main thing Crusade supporters want to see are more dead Muslims.

[Paschall]

4. Is this accurate?

"YESTERDAY’S HAND-HELD missile attack on an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter, which killed 16 soldiers and wounded 20, was the first lethal downing of a U.S. aircraft in Iraq since last spring’s war."

I thought at least another helicopter had been downed by hostile fire "since last spring's war." (By the way, is this now "this fall's war?")

[catmandu57]

7. I believe you're correct

I remember the report of an apache being downed right before they blew up the abrams tank. How many ways does someone have to say get out before they're heard?

[DUreader]

8. Yes, helicopter shot down when Wolfo. was there before hotel rocket attack

last week

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. I don't believe

anyone was killed in the downing of the Black Hawk last week.

You've got to read their lips, this was the first 'lethal downing'.

[teryang]

5. The myth of fighting them over there

We don't understand the language. We don't understand the culture. The local population loathes us because we have destroyed their businesses and jobs. Now we are breaking into their homes and humiliating them privately and publicly. We have no effective intelligence. We have no effective tactics. Our war there is based on fraud and illegitimate. We have killed and maimed thousands. Our soldiers are being cut to ribbons.

How is this helping in a terrorism threat in the states?

[agincourt]

6. But we're winning,

We got the Grover Norpig 15% flat tax in Iraq. We've purged our good commanders for simpletons who think god appointed the smirking rat to lead this country. And best of all we got a belligerent or terrorist cowed population who has no backbone to the smirking rat,and probably never will. We are winning, what's a helicopter full of troops going down once in a while ,after all?