Here is the latest from the Fourth Rail and they mention an article in the San Francisco Chronicle which attributes strength to the Terrorists (When in fact they are about to get their heads hannded to them ):
Thanks for ping and URL reference to Bill Roggio site. As usual, one finds a better balanced view then if found eleswhere. I found the variance in opinions between the Col Davis of RCT2 and Lct Col Alford of 3rd BN 6th Marine Regiment a bit interesting. Davis sits at his desk at Al Asad, and Alford may very well be sitting in a temperary FOB outside of Qaem, a distance of some 140 miles via. river road bends apart. And two distinctly different Area of Operations(AO).
Thought they most likely interface for major operations they are mostly on their own unless 3/3 needs air support flown from Al Asad. So it could appear both are right on with their reports. At any rate, it is most vital as we all can construe for 3/6 and Iraqi forces to take out any new foreigners that may have gotten in from Syria.......OR for all we know have been moving north to gather from areas in Davis's AO where they have been doing raids on the larger cities southeast of Al Asad. Something not often brought up. Well actually have not seen anyone mentioned that option on any posts. I continue to wonder if foreign terrorist that pass through the border check point above Qaem where it enters Syria, are being allowed to pass on the Syrian side.
Just a thought. If a young guy with what looks like a valid visa who has no weapons and perhaps has a valid family member living in Iraq, gets approached by the Syrian border patrol police. How can they figure out if he is a baddy or not. The only solution is to shut down the every border crossing completely as the Iraqi Government has announce they are in the process of doing. No one enters or leaves.
Tough luck for those that are legit at this point. If no one is using any road between Syria and Iraq in Al Anbar and Niniveh provinces other then Iraqi and US military forces.
Surely Sat photos, air recon, both manned and unmanned daily flights, along with light mobile forces such as one finds say in the LAR Bn's can pick any one up hoofing it in. IMHO until they do this, Ali Babba will continue to slip across the Syrian border at many checkpoints, no matter how well you try to sift them out. Lastly. A terrorist can take the form of a legitamate oil truck driver for instance driving in from Jordian or Syria. And we must always bare in mind the Syrian border is some 380 linear miles.
No response required. Just some thoughts.