Baghdad Plan Has Elusive Targets

[cal04]

U.S. Patrols Still Unable to Tell Friend From Foe
The engineer stood aside as Iraqi and American soldiers rifled through his daughter's wardrobe and peered under her bed. He did not mind when they confiscated the second clip for his AK-47, because he knew it could be easily replaced. He demurred when asked about insurgent activity in the neighborhood, afraid to be stamped an informant and driven from his home of 14 years. Face to face with the Baghdad security plan, it seemed to him a bit absurd.

"Obviously, the soldiers lack the necessary information about where to look and who to look for," said the government engineer, who declined to give his name in an interview during a sweep through his western Baghdad neighborhood last Monday. "There are too many houses and too many hide-outs."

American military commanders in Iraq describe the security plan they began implementing in mid-February as a rising tide: a gradual influx of thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops whose extended presence in the city's violent neighborhoods will drown the militants' ability to stage bombings and sectarian killings.

But U.S. troops, Iraqi soldiers and officials, and Baghdad residents say the plan is hampered because security forces cannot identify, let alone apprehend, the elusive perpetrators of the violence. Shiite militiamen in the capital say they are keeping a low profile to wait out the security plan. U.S. commanders have noted increased insurgent violence in the Sunni-dominated belt around Baghdad and are concerned that fighters are shifting their focus outside the city.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/25/AR2007022501412.html

[Trajan]

1. The 'surge' ....

"American military commanders in Iraq describe the security plan they began implementing in mid-February as a rising tide: a gradual influx of thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops whose extended presence in the city's violent neighborhoods will drown the militants' ability to stage bombings and sectarian killings."

They will 'drown out' the militant's ability to stage bombings and killings ?

How so ? .... How does in increase of 21000 troops (+14.5%) 'drown out' a city of millions, many of whom are determined to kill as many sectaries or occupiers as they can manage ? ...

A mere 21,000 more troops ISNT going to 'drown out' a multitude .... This is yet another Neocon pipe dream .... 21000 is a drop in the bucket within an ocean of ancient animosities ....

This is silly, and sad ..... a pathetic miscalculation: something this gang is becoming infamous for ....

If THIS is their 'plan', then they might as well give it up and pack up .... It is NOT viable ...