Posted on 02/13/2007 7:50:13 AM PST by spacejunkie
Edited on 02/13/2007 8:23:35 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
As BurbankKarl a couple of posts ago, this should have been done on day one of the invasion. I don't think we need a West Point degree to figure that one out.
I have only three words.
'BOUT FREAKIN' TIME!!!!!!
I never understood why Iraq security didn't stop all trucks and/or non-motorcycles (them too, sometimes) coming into Iraq from Iran, and then provide said trucks with a good mechanical anal exam.
Plus, any vehicle spotted using non-sanctioned govt. authorized roads would be blown to smithereeens, no reason given).
If Iraq wants to stop innocent men, women and children from getting splattered all over the marketplaces, then it better load up the pea-shooters, and let freedom ring.
PS: Ditto the above plan for the Syrian-Iraq border, the Saudi-Iraq border, and the Turkey-Iraq border.
(Did I leave anyone out? Kuwait, perhaps, but somehow I don't see too many jihadists taking the chance on running the gauntlet of US forces now sitting in Kuwait.
How come it can be closed for three days and not for the last 5 years? How come it can be closed for three days and remain so until all the bloody bad guys are killed?
This should have been done 3 years ago and on an indefinite basis, not for 3 days. I recall reading that Ariel Sharon lost his confidence in President Bush in 2004 when he gave intelligence of Syrian and Iranian infiltration and Bush insisted that contact between Iraqis and others in the region would have a positive influence. Realpolitik is starting to sound more appealing all the time.
Kind of like a tax free day, for a limited time only. Now back to business as usual.
Politicians have no balls. Remember when the US would kick someones ass if it was proven that you were supplying weapons that were used to kill our soldiers?
Actually, I can't. Never mind.
Why weren't the borders closed about four years ago?
Freepmail coming.....May be closing to keep folks from fleeing.
I can't say why the border was closed.
The bad guys can, as you say, wait it out, or, simply cross where there aren't checkpoints.
Maybe three days is...significant...to the situation in Iraq.
Maybe someone wants to make sure civilians aren't anywhere near the border for the next few days.
Maybe somethig else.
From here, we wait and watch, something you and I have a lot of experience with.
Al-Mada reported on a list of anticipated measures that will take place in Baghdad during the execution of the plan. Security forces in Baghdad will be granted exceptional powers during the operations, and the borders with Syria and Iran will be closed for 72 hours (the dates of the closure have not been specified).
In addition, Al-Mada said that all firearms licenses will be suspended, convoys of interior and defense ministry forces will be searched to assure their compliance with general regulations, uncooperative units, al-Mada added, will be dealt with as unlawful groups. Among the many measures that will be enacted, individuals living in homes that belong to absentee families will be removed for the properties, unless they submit documents proving their right of residence.
http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/1382/Iraqi_Papers_Wednesday_Iranian_Rifles_In_Iraq
Yeah, I can't believe that it is just being closed now. This is amazing.
Given that Al Sadr let the country yesterday, they must have had intel that he was thinking of leaving. Then the 72 hours thing makes sense.
The story I saw suggested that Sadr left two or three weeks ago. Of course, his people are now saying that he is just chilling out somewhere in Najaf.
The border closing probably only is obliquely related to Sadr. The CNN story suggests that the closure is to support installation of detection equipment:
"During the closures, Iraqi officials will install improved security equipment at checkpoints, including upgraded bomb detection devices, an Iraqi official told CNN."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1784322/posts?page=113#113
It will be interesting to see what happens in coming days. What gets into open source news is often only a small bit of truth, with other stuff intentionally or unintentially mixed in.
Dog, are you digging out of your storm OK?
I still find it interesting that the top dog over there now is a Navy man, which says something else is up.
Good question!
Not only is that racist, it's also impossible, according to Bush.
Well we do have problems figuring out how to handle borders...;) Probably didn't occur to our government that more closed border is a better closed border.
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