U.S. Commander: Western Iraq plagued by 'local insurgency'

[sabra]

http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=152945

U.S. Commander: Western Iraq plagued by 'local insurgency'

AL ASAD, Iraq -- There are a variety of insurgent groups creating chaos in Iraq and in the violence-plagued Al Anbar province, the troublemakers are homegrown.

That's the opinion of the commander of the Second Marine Expeditionary Force, which has spent the better part of the last year doing battle with the insurgency in the Sunni-dominated province.

General Steve Johnson said the insurgency is fueled by a mix of religion and politics. He said local insurgents who are planting and detonating bombs are “jockeying for position.''

...

He thinks once the jockeying is over, the attacks will trail off. He also believes Al Qaida “is an influence but not the dominating factor'' behind the violence.

[OKNancy]

1. so Al-Queda is "neutralized"

but now insurgents are creating chaos. I'm confused.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2016226


( I'm not really confused )

[Journeyman]

9. Thanks for posting that. . .

I read the first post just before I went to bed last night now this is the first I read this morning. . . I too am not confused -- more amused, I guess. This is on par with the "we have 90 divisions of Iraqis trained to go -- well, maybe just one" that BushCo amused us with last Fall.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. I bet that if the Canadians were down here patrolling our streets...

we'd just be sitting back, watching soaps and eating bon bons.... maybe some would... but not me.

[PDJane]

3. Yeah, well...........

It's more likely to be the other way around, eh?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Nooooooo doubt. You got that right. nt.

[D_Master]

5. Buddy of mine in that area

And the last time I knew one of my buddies is with the Marines near the Syrian border, I wonder what he'll be like when he comes back, ke was talking about the people he was gonna go over and kill, but I always took that as a front he was putting up.

[rucky]

6. THEY DON'T WANT US THERE

get a f-ing clue

[daleo]

7. All politics is local

And armed resistance is politics by another name.

[madmark]

8. Well this guy will have to be demoted

[pfitz59]

10. Why are Marines serving as occupation forces?

Marines are rapid reaction combat units, not garrison forces. That's the Army's job. Could it be the Army lacks manpower to do its mission? Withdraw the Marines and put them back on ships where they belong......

[tabasco]

11. Your statement is incorrect.

Marines and Army are both prepared to be an occupation force.

And both are rapid reaction combat units.

Are you trying to say the 82nd ABN, the Rangers, etc. are "garrison forces"?

Silly.