U.S. and Iraqi Troops Report More Than 130 Militants Detained in Raids

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBQHDHK08E.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. and Iraqi troops detained more than 130 suspected militants and seized weapons in a series of raids across Iraq this week, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

At least 94 of those captured came from the Baghdad area, said Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a spokesman for Task Force Baghdad. Both weapons and munitions were seized, he said. "You name it, we have it," Kent said.

Most of the militants detained in Baghdad were believed to be directly involved in recent attacks in the capital. Two were "specifically targeted as members of an execution cell," the military said in a statement.

"These aren't random searches. ... We are acting on specific, credible information we receive from local citizens who want to join us in the fight against terrorism," Kent said. "We are questioning people in the area and conducting our operations based mainly on this information."

I guess when we have the entire country detained, we can declare victory?

[bemildred]

1. Spreading the "rat out your neighbors" meme, I guess.

Or maybe the "your neighbors are ratting you out" meme.
Hard to be sure. If this were really true though, I would not
think they'd be so eager to warn the rest of the "militants"
that they were being ratted out.

[seriousstan]

2. Maybe people are just getting tired of having random relatives killed.

[bemildred]

3. Which people?

Relatives of dead US soldiers?
Relatives of people killed by US soldiers?
Relatives of people killed by "insurgent attacks"?
Or all of the above?

Edit: category #2 is by far the largest, by the way.

[seriousstan]

4. Since this is an article about criminals being turned in by Iraqis

I would have to say #2 and #3. The Iraqi people are smart enough to see things with their own eyes. They see Americans that want their friends and relatives back home. They see American soldiers that are tired of being away from home. They see an American President that would benefit by the soldiers being home and our involvement in Iraq noticeably diminished. All things that point to the US wanting to leave.
They see their own desire to get back to as normal as possible a life without unnecessary outside interference. They also see that all of this is easier brought about by a peaceful transformation into an Iraqi government and security force.

They also see that the Americans are not going to run from the car bombers. They also see what happened to Fallujah.

Then they see explosions directed more and more toward their own friends, relatives and neighbors. They also see the response this activity brings to their neighborhoods and homes. They also see the religious fervor of the people carrying out suicide attacks. They also see the fundamentalist fingers of the people behind these attacks.

It is an easy choice. Back the Islamists, who are using methods that hurt the people, are ineffective in forcing the Americans out of the country and push a Islamist nation...which Iraq has never embraced.

Or, work with the Americans who retaliate with methods that hurt the people, have every reason to want to leave and are not pushing an Islamic nation upon them.

[bemildred]

5. I'll give you credit for a serious and reasonable response.

:thumbsup:

I don't agree, but I see no reason for us to argue.
Let's see how it plays out.