Staying Power: Iraq cannot be left to sadistic terrorists

The Times/RCP ^ | June 21, 2006

[rightinthemiddle]

The announcement by Margaret Beckett that the allied handover to Iraqi forces would be complete within 18 months comes hard on the heels of Japan’s statement that its 600 non-combat troops will leave within the next few weeks. But overshadowing both hopeful signals has been the grim news yesterday that the two missing US soldiers have been found decapitated, their bodies showing signs of barbaric torture. They were apparently murdered on the orders of the new al-Qaeda leadership. At the same time a senior British commander has given warning that the situation in Basra is becoming worse and that a power struggle between Shia factions has led to a “worrying” amount of violence.

Taken together, these events underline the immense task facing the coalition in its attempt to ensure an orderly transfer of power and authority to the Government of Nouri al-Maliki. The insurgents are determined to make the exit of allied troops as bloody as possible and to challenge the Government before it is able to enforce a new crackdown. They have reverted to obscene carnage in an attempt to mock claims that the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had weakened al-Qaeda and that many among the terrorists were themselves disgusted with al-Zarqawi’s barbarism.

[rightinthemiddle]

Can't believe this is in the Times.

[Grendel9]

Back to Square One...Shock and Awe?!

[Patriot_Bazz]

If we're going to do Shock and Awe lets do it right this time. We should have escalated this war long ago.

Given the evidence of our boys being tortured to death, Jurf al-Sakhar (where the bodies were found) should be flattened. We should repeat this everywhere a similar outrage is perpetrated.

[sarasota]

Want to weigh in here?

[jankp]

Iraq cannot be left to sadistic terrorists...

or the Democrat's(whichever is worse).