U.S. general: Dip in Baghdad violence temporary (Reuters)

[Eugene]

U.S. general: Dip in Baghdad violence temporary

By Kristin Roberts | February 16, 2007

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Violence in Baghdad has declined as thousands of U.S. and
Iraqi forces flow into the city, but the dip is likely temporary while insurgents halt
attacks to assess the situation, a U.S. commander said on Friday.

"They are watching us carefully," said Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil, commander of Multi-
National Division Baghdad.

"There is an air of suspense throughout the city, expectation if you will, and we believe
there's no question about it -- many of these extremists are laying low and watching to
see what it is we do and how we do it."

"We do not believe that that is going to continue," Fil told reporters at the Pentagon by
videoconference from Baghdad. "We do expect there are going to be some very rough,
difficult days ahead. This enemy, they understand lethality and they have a thirst for
blood like I have never seen anywhere before."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/02/16/us_general_dip_in_baghdad_violence_temporary

[youngdem]

1. They always do this

During and after the assault on Fallujah, they just melted into the general population and disappeared.

NO irregular force would ever take head on an announced assault by the US Army. It is suicide without benefit.

They are opportunists. They will just lay low, and take the options given to them.

Or, they could be gearing up for a new Tet offensive. Either way, we are still screwed.

[RufusEarl]

2. Baghdad

Look for violence to spring up outside Baghdad for a short while, they'll just go where the troops aren't!

[Dhalgren]

3. Watch for a Tet-like move, here.

With the escalation in Baghdad, watch for the surrounding cities to erupt into flames. What will the "strategy" be then? We are tapped-out, manpower-wise, so will it be carpet bombing? Kill them all and let god sort them out, as Carville says?