Fireworks Feared on Hussein Holidays

[kskiska]

Week of Anniversaries May Be Impetus for Attacks, Officials Say

BAGHDAD, July 14 -- Faez Khalil, a doughnut-soft merchant who sells guitars and keyboards, says he's a peaceful man. But he is fighting mad at U.S. troops occupying his country, and he's hoping that Iraqis strike back at them on Thursday, the 34th anniversary of the day Saddam Hussein's Baath Party took power in Iraq.

"I hope there will be attacks on July 17, because we want to be freed from the Americans," said Khalil, 35, who believes Iraqis are suffering more violence and hunger now than during Hussein's rule. "If I could, if I had a gun, I would participate."

With deadly and increasingly well-organized attacks on U.S. soldiers surging, U.S. military officials are concerned that Thursday's anniversary, which was celebrated as Iraq's national day during Hussein's rule, could be used for a symbolic escalation of the violence.

(snip)

"This used to be my shop," Khalil said. "Now it is the Americans' shop. The whole city is the Americans'. Saddam made many mistakes, but he didn't hurt us as much as the Americans have."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56024-2003Jul14.html?nav=hptop_ts

[mjb4]

1. lasts for two weeks

from 17th thru 30th and then another celebration afterward. The 17th thru the 30th will be the true test. But nothing happened on Saddam's birthday.

[bluestateguy]

2. We'll see

BUt everytime we think there is going to be trouble on anniversaries they come and go with nothing happening. Why? Becuase we expect things to happen, thus diluting the element of surprise. These insurgents and terrorist groups operate only on their own schedule and nobody else's. Was September 11, 2001 an anniversary? It might be fair to say that there is less of a chance of new attacks on anniversaries, though I would never say they should let their guard down.

[Maple]

3. Well if I was going to attack

I certainly wouldn't do it when they were expecting me to!

[hussar]

4. Always expect the unexpected

"This used to be my shop," Khalil said. "Now it is the Americans' shop. The whole city is the Americans'. Saddam made many mistakes, but he didn't hurt us as much as the Americans have."

Nuff said.

[laconicsax]

5. What are they taking Doxycycline for?

The last sentence in the article says that US troops are taking doxycycline.

That stuff makes your skin ultra-sensitive to light--really not a good thing to take if you're out in the sun all day.