US Is Worried Foe Is Tracking Targets in Iraq

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 — Bush administration officials are increasingly concerned that anti-American forces in Iraq are using simple but effective means to monitor activities and coordinate attacks against the American military, civilian administrators and visiting dignitaries.

As evidence, Pentagon and military officials cite a recent raid by troops of the 101st Airborne Division during which they broke up an apparent plot to assassinate an American colonel. The would-be assailants, they said, had observed and charted the Army officer's daily routine — including his jogging route and schedule of public appearances — to plan their attack.

Evidence gathered by investigators also sheds new light on the rocket attack that struck the Rashid Hotel during the overnight visit to Baghdad by Paul D. Wolfowitz, the deputy defense secretary, in late October. Military intelligence officers have reported that the hotel staff was infiltrated over the summer by at least one former member of Saddam Hussein's secret service.

Although Pentagon, military and intelligence officials caution that some of the evidence remains circumstantial while investigations continue, these concerns help explain the extraordinary secrecy surrounding President Bush's surprise visit to Iraq on Thanksgiving Day.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/29/international/middleeast/29INTE.html?hp

[not systems]

I'm reminded of Starship Troopers...

it seems to be developing almost human intelligence.

No duh.

Who would a thunk it?

[J B]

1. Of course the Wolfowitz denials were false.

They were so lame at the time, yet were attempted anyway. Silly....

[fairfaxvadem]

2. Isn't that SOP for "resistance" movements??

You can characterizne the opposition in Iraq however you like: "dead-enders", Saddamists, Baathist insurgents, foreign elements, or plain old disgruntled Iraqis who have come together, isn't this what they do?

Isn't this what the French underground did? Isn't this what the Viet Cong did? In Algiers? In Serbia? Bosnia? Chechny? In Afghanistan against the Russians, and now us??

It's just a damn shame because there will be no end to this until the last American is out of that country. I am just not encouraged that we will be leaving behind a stable Iraq, whether we bail next year or in five years.

[impeach the gop]

3. All's fair in love and war

n/t

[teryang]

4. The advantage is all theirs

Their country, their people, their roads. We are the arrogant foot stomping redcoats, they are the revolutionary army hiding in plain sight.

[VolcanoJen]

5. Kick!

:dem:

[symbolman]

6. This is how they excuse Bush

for being a coward.. all window dressing.

[preciousdove]

7. Ma, he's hitting me back!

Since the war has been declared over this must be what is happening.
Good nite, DU.