AP: Infighting Hampering Baghdad Crackdown

[Eugene]

Infighting Hampering Baghdad Crackdown

By RYAN LENZ
The Associated Press
Friday, February 9, 2007; 4:40 PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi commanders are urging the Americans to go after Sunni
targets as the first focus of the military push to secure Baghdad, displaying a
sectarian tilt that is delaying full implementation of the plan to drive gunmen
from the streets, U.S. officers say.

American officers, interviewed at the sprawling Camp Victory base at the
western edge of the capital, also acknowledge they are finding little in their
initial searches of Baghdad neighborhoods _ suggesting either they received
faulty intelligence or that the massive publicity that preceded the operation
gave militants time to slip away.

-snip-

Although Iraqis have seen an increase in the number of checkpoints and other
security measures, there is little sign of a "surge" of troops in the streets. U.S.
officials insist the public will see a big increase soon.

U.S. officers told The Associated Press that the delays in implementing the plan
were in part a result of disagreements between American and Iraqi commanders
about what neighborhoods should be cleared first.

During joint planning sessions, the Iraqis have been urging U.S. officials to focus
on neighborhoods believed to harbor Sunni insurgents, according to officers familiar
with the discussions. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the subject is
sensitive.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/09/AR2007020901513.html

[grytpype]

1. There's a civil war and we are fighing both sides, we are also on both sides.

Way to screw up for freedumb.

[Joe for Clark]

3. Well, what they really do is parade down a road -

Hell, the same road everyday and let both sides shoot at them.

This so far beyond stupid at this point.

Freedumb - sounds right to me - (sadly).

Joe

[0rganism]

5. it's more than civil war -- it's "civil war plus"!

I like how the national intelligence estimate put it:
---
The Intelligence Community judges that the term “civil war” does not adequately capture the complexity of the conflict in Iraq, which includes extensive Shia-on-Shia violence, al-Qa’ida and Sunni insurgent attacks on Coalition forces, and widespread criminally motivated violence. Nonetheless, the term “civil war” accurately describes key elements of the Iraqi conflict, including the hardening of ethno-sectarian identities, a sea change in the character of the violence, ethno-sectarian mobilization, and population displacements.
---

Great! Let's see... more complex than a Civil War in which we are caught in the middle and on both sides. I believe the military does have a technical term for that: "Clusterfuck" -- although Jon Stewart's slightly more grandiose and emphatic word, "Catastrofuck," might more "adequately capture" the scope of the mess.

[Toots]

10. There are far more than "both sides" going on..

That is something Americans don't seem to get. Americans think of Civil War as in North vs South not like Catholics vs Baptists vs Methodists vs Jehovah's Witness vs Presbyterian vs etc. etc. etc......

[Joe for Clark]

2. Good post- I hadn't seen this.

Such lieing sacks of shit -

I believe every word.

We have to get those poor dumb american kids out of there -

Fortunately, some of those Junior Officers appear pretty smart.

I think it is always that way.

Thanks for posting this!!

Joe

[kingoth]

11. John Kerry

made a "dumb kids" statement once too, it's a shame you think the soldiers are "dumb kids." They are all graduates of our american education system or they couldn't volunteer for the service.

[ohio2007]

4. massive publicity that preceded the operation......

..isn't the way to win a war.

[Disturbed]

6. All of the folk who are "Insurgents" have plenty of time to

relocate for a few months then return when this "Surge" has dwindled.

[SpiralHawk]

7. Commander AWOL leads another Miserable Failure

As usual.

[Solly Mack]

8. uh...nevermind

[4dsc]

9. Isn't this the Shia game plan

Have the US clear out the armed sinni's. Then they send in the death squad's of Sadr militia's and ethnically clear the area.