Iraqi Attacks on Americans Start to Ease, Bremer Says

[DeepModem Mom]

Far fewer Americans have been killed in guerrilla attacks in recent days, L. Paul Bremer III, the American administrator here, said Tuesday. Instead, he said, the insurgents have turned to killing other Iraqis.

"The security situation has changed," Mr. Bremer said during a news conference. "They have failed to intimidate the coalition. They have now begun a pattern of trying to intimidate innocent Iraqis."

Hours later, guerrillas fired mortars or rockets toward the walled compound where he and other American occupation authorities live and work but apparently missed and hit a building and a road nearby.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/26/international/middleeast/26IRAQ.html

[quaker bill]

1. It seems like this every week

on tuesday, wednesday, and thursday. The larger attacks generally occur on the weekend.

The attacks are not about intimidation of the coalition. The insurgents are not a true military threat to the assembled army over there. Our army is far superior technically.

These attacks are for domestic consumption. Their intent is to keep the cost of occupation high and quite visible to the American public.

The whole "we're not scared of them", "bring it on" machismo line is simply reducing this to terms that make no sense in context. The Israeli's have been 'toughing it out' in Palestine for 40 years.

There are occasional lulls in the action there too. But for 40 years these lulls have never meant the conflict is over.

[saigon68]

2. Pure Spin from Lapdog CHICKENHAWK ---- L. Paul Bremer III

We are winning!!

I see the light at the end of the Tunnel!!!

The more we WIN, the more they attack us!!!!

We are closing this phase of the Crusade!!!!

[teryang]

3. The worst month since the war began!

Their mendacity has no limits. They've been killing Iraqis from the very beginning of the occupation. But the number of coalition dead has never been higher.

[gristy]

4. A reporter with a sense of humor.

Hours later, guerrillas fired mortars or rockets toward the walled compound where he and other American occupation authorities live and work

[Nihil]

6. No, no, no, you don't understand ...

They weren't actually aiming at the American occupation buildings,
the mortars/rockets didn't miss at all - they were all part of the
pattern to "intimidate innocent Iraqis".

Like the US (sorry, "Coalition") forces haven't been trying to
intimidate innocent Iraqis all along?

Nihil

[dbt]

5. Iraq Nam!

WHERE have I heard shit like this before? And from whose lying lips? Oh yeah, Lyndon Baines Nixon!

:grr:
dbt

[Hand]

7. Howsomever....

Sixty dead in the month of November. That's a bit over one a day, if I still can count--which Bremer can't.

[htuttle]

8. Falling past the 60th floor, the man was heard to say...

"So far, so good!"

[cthrumatrix]

9. let's all lie for the resident ..... damn liberal media again

[Blue Gardener]

10. People will believe him

He knows there are plenty of idiots who aren't really paying attention who will believe it, plus the "liberal" media will continue to report it without challenge.

[Loonman]

11. Chocolate ration up 10%

We were never in a war with Eastasia, we have always been in a war with Eurasia.

Viva Big Brother!

[janx]

12. What? There are more U.S. soldiers dead so far this month

than any other month!

[Snellius]

13. Oh, good, Not Americans, Just some "other Iraqis".

The spin here is unbelievable. Bush, the media, the neocons, Americans could care less about Iraqis. Even the Vietnamese had more of a human face and more sympathy. Americans regard Iraqis with distain.

In the long run, this is a much more insidious strategy than a direct attack and, inevitably, will lead to many more American casualties when there are no Iraqis or allies left to help us out.