In the Battle for Baghdad, U.S. Turns War on Insurgents

[leftchick]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/25/AR2006022501738.html

PATROL BASE SWAMP, Iraq -- Here, in a half-ruined house bristling with dull black machine guns and surrounded by green sandbags, shin-deep mudholes, and shadowy palm groves, lies the leading edge of the U.S. war in Iraq.

This remote outpost, manned by Bravo Company of a unit in the 101st Airborne Division, is the forwardmost American position in the so-called Triangle of Death southwest of Baghdad. Some U.S. commanders say the region is now the focal point in their campaign against Iraq's stubborn insurgency. It's a tough fight: Just getting U.S. troops established here in the canal-laced fields of the Euphrates River Valley meant running a gantlet of roadside bombs, with one platoon encountering 14 in a three-hour stretch.

Interviews with U.S. soldiers -- from top generals to front-line grunts in Tall Afar, Mosul, Ramadi, Balad and throughout Baghdad -- as well as briefings at the U.S. military headquarters for the Middle East in the Persian Gulf state of Qatar, reveal a markedly different war from that seen in 2003 and 2004, or even last year.

Current U.S. military commanders say they have come to understand that they are fighting within a political context, which means the results must first be judged politically. The pace and shape of the war also have changed, with U.S. forces trying to exercise tactical patience and shift responsibilities to Iraqi forces, even as they worry that the American public's patience may be dwindling

[fishnfla]

1. Military might and political mayhem do not mix

an army is the last thing you need in a political war. OUR army in someone elses political war is even a worse idea.

The onliest way to get our troops out is to get rid of bush. Even WM F Buckley is calling this shindig a failure.

[saigon68]

12. The military still enjoys torturing people

[rodeodance]

2. sunday: Two US soldiers killed by roadside bomb in Baghdad

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060226/ts_nm/iraq_soldiers_dc
Two US soldiers killed by roadside bomb in Baghdad

Sun Feb 26, 4:20 AM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two U.S. soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in western Baghdad on Sunday, bringing the number of U.S. personnel killed since the invasion in March 2003 to at least 2,290.

One soldier was killed immediately by the bomb, according the U.S. military, while the second died from wounds after being evacuated to a military hospital......

[mikehiggins]

3. Is that the insurgency that's in its last throes?

Its so hard to keep them straight these days.

[NeoConsSuck]

5. same insurgency..

the same insurgency that the white house prick and the freepers say we have already defeated.

The insurgents must be coming back as zombies, how else would you explain the continued battles?

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Blah blah blah blah

article posted earlier by the way. Same day as it was announced that there isn't even one combat ready batallion, this article says that everything is going real nice. At least they should get together and coordinate their bullshit.

[madrchsod]

6. what a bunch of shit

this reporter probaly hasn`t been out of the green zone or his base camp in weeks..the iraqi people have little use for western journalists who are not out with the people in the streets. it`s all a bunch of bullshit aimed at sunday morning coffee crowd so they can feel all warm inside knowing that their leader is bringing freedom to the poor people of iraq..did you know they still use camels?
oh by, the way jills time is up again today....

[formercia]

7. There ya go folks, take your pick of the press releases

The Colonel will hold a Press briefing at 08:30 and will be glad to answer any questions.

[Rose Siding]

8. "U.S. Turns War on Insurgents"? Who were they fighting before?

Any-who...now that we've turned it on 'em everything should go swimmingly. I'm going back to sleep. :eyes:

[Massachusetts]

9. FUBAR!

[shrike]

10. The Battle for Baghdad???

How many g-d times are we going to have to take that city?

And when is G.W. going to land on an aircraft carrier again?

[katinmn]

11. keep movin those piles of dirt, boys, till we tell you to stop