Generals reassess enemy in Iraq

Washington Times ^ | September 26, 2005 | Rowan Scarborough

[jmc1969]

The rising optimism that enveloped the Pentagon last spring about victory in Iraq has given way to more sober assessments that the insurgency will stay somewhat robust for months or years to come.

Spot interviews with mid- and senior-level military personnel reveal a grudging acknowledgement that the two-prong enemy Zarqawi's foreign terrorists and Saddam loyalists remains potent despite battles in which scores of fighters are killed or captured.

A senior Pentagon official who monitors daily intelligence reports on Iraq was asked whether the U.S. is winning.

"Good question," the official said. "It's open to discussion." The official spoke as the death toll among U.S. troops topped the 1,900 mark.

The insurgency's resilience is one reason the Bush administration shifted its message this summer. The new talking point became that the U.S. alone cannot defeat the insurgents and that the Iraqi people in the end must do the job. Yet inside the Pentagon, and among field commanders, there is a firm belief that Zarqawi is growing desperate.

"You don't see Zarqawi attacking Americans," said a special-operations officer who has debriefed commandos returning from Iraq. "He is so desperate and twisted he's attacking Shi'ites."

A second Pentagon official said intelligence reports show that militant Shi'ites increasingly see Zarqawi as an enemy, not an ally.

"Shi'ites are rapidly concluding that al-Qaeda is serving no purpose," the official said. "I read the intelligence. Shi'ites are saying, 'If you want the Americans out, get rid of al-Qaeda.'

Pentagon officials were quicker to express optimism last spring, as the number of overall attacks dropped and Zarqawi seemed to be running out of steam. But then over the summer, his network unleashed a series of powerful suicide bombs across the country. Al-Qaeda got better at recruiting jihadists and building bombs. The lull gave way to a bloodbath.

[leadpenny]

What's the date on that puppy? (I'm on dial-up and don't want to click on the link)

[jmc1969]

Today

[leadpenny]

Thanks, I'm also too lazy to go out the driveway to get my copy.

[elhombrelibre]

Expect some very good news soon.

[jmc1969]

How soon?

[MNJohnnie]

Well once again the actually quotes tell a much different message then what the Headline or the Dinasour Media spin that is put on the topice. What the heck is wrong with the Wash Times, they are SUPPOSE to be the good guys. I guess maybe this is a case of underpromise and over deliver.

[elhombrelibre]

Above my pay grade.

[jmc1969]

Fine with me.

[MissAmericanPie]

This war will suddenly just stop. Wait n see, the supply of insurgents will just dry up. Especially with the Iraqi's ratting out any new strangers that move into their area. The U.S. military, if they don't have one already, needs to have a hotline for citizens to call and report any strangers or suspecious activity in their area.

When the insurgents find that they are being killed or arrested within days or hours of their arrival the supply of terrorists will just dry up.

[jmc1969]

They have had a hotline that has been very sucessful for some time.

[maica]

What the heck is wrong with the Wash Times,


######

I have noticed a persistent shift to "mainstream" (aka anti-Bush) type photo selection and headline writing for the past few months. Whether the editorial board have decided this or lower level emloyees are exercising personal decisions, I wonder and reserve judgment.

[Dave Elias]

Priceless:

"The U.S. military, if they don't have one already, needs to have a hotline for citizens to call and report any strangers or suspecious activity in their area."

It might help to get the phone system working first!

[Don_Ret_USAF]

Heard that Iraq has a navy now. They have 26 ships and are patrolling in the gulf. Helping with security in that area.

[sure_fine]

the first thing that should already have been done is, prove to them, beyond any shadow of doubt, that there is a power greater than themselves, and its not Allah

[R.W.Ratikal]

Those who predicted that Iraq would become a quagmire turn out to have been right. We are stuck.

As long as we keep troops in Iraq we are providing targets for every America-hater in the world to funnel in fighters and arms to attack our forces.

Long ago military strategists came to realize that the enemy should not be fought on enemy turf or on enemy terms.

We are doing both in Iraq. At the same time, it seems to me, we are not using our strongest advantages.

Thoes advantages are economic, air and, naval power. We should strike all terrorist areas by air using carriers as air bases where necessary. We should use troops only to throw an iron ring around Iraq. We should permit no oil exports, allow nothing in, nothing out and freeze all Iraqi assets in the U.S. and insist that our allies do the same in their countries.

Forget democracy. If it were possible for democratic institutions to develop in these countries it would have taken place decades ago. History has demonstrated that the Middle East can be ruled only by outside colonial rule or by theocratic (or secular) strongmen.

It's probably not too much to say that we will finally be forced in the end to admit that Iraq, and other Middle Eastern countries, are not only incapable of self-government, they are as ungovernable as a herd of cats.

The bottom line is that we cannot win in Iraq for there is nothing to win.

[ImpBill]

Ping to watch replies

[Gum Shoe]

"When the insurgents find that they are being killed or arrested within days or hours of their arrival the supply of terrorists will just dry up."

Yes, but they have to get this information somehow. Who will tell them the truth? Al Jazeera? The lies will continue and they will continue to show up for their virgins.

[Casloy]

We should strike all terrorist areas by air using carriers as air bases where necessary. We should use troops only to throw an iron ring around Iraq. We should permit no oil exports, allow nothing in, nothing out and freeze all Iraqi assets in the U.S. and insist that our allies do the same in their countries.

Throwing an iron ring around Iraq is physically impossible, not to mention pointless. The Iraq government is our ally so freezing their assets and shutting down oil exports makes absolutely no sense. As to striking terrorist areas...where exactly would those be? It's not like they congregate in one specific area. For every terrorist you kill you will have to kill 100 innocent Iraqis. The way to bring peace to Iraq is to continue hunting down and killing the terrorists while the democratic process, as clumsy as it is, continues to evolve.

[Tom Bombadil]

We should strike.... we should use toops.... we should permit no... We cannot win.

And good morning to you.

Sigh.

Maybe we should just let them have it. Maybe having uncontrolled world terrorism isn't that bad after all. The first World Trade center bombing, the USS Cole, Somalia, Lebanon, and losing a couple of diplomatic buildings in Africa have taught us that giving up is really the best way to go.

Surrounding, bombing, isolating, and otherwise coercing foreign countries is not going to plant nations of free people. And nations of free people are the only solution to the problem of terrorism.