"Surge" in Iraq may have amounted to be little more than a spark

[ck4829]

Al-Qaida in Iraq appears to have regained some footing with a series of high-profile and deadly bombings over the past two weeks and a sabotage blast Monday that may leave parts of northern Iraq without electricity until next week.

The counter-punch coincides with preparations by U.S. and Iraqi forces for an offensive in the northern city of Mosul, described as al-Qaida's last urban stronghold.

American commanders and diplomats have been careful in their assessments of the recent downturn in violence in Iraq — routinely saying that al-Qaida is on the run but not defeated. The terror organization's resurgence in recent days gave strength to those caveats.

Al-Qaida's resiliency began showing itself Feb. 1, when two women with Down syndrome were strapped with explosives then detonated by remote control just minutes apart in two Baghdad pet markets. The final death toll was 99.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/iraq_al_qaida_counterpunch

[spanone]

1. the entire war, the deaths, the maiming, the surge, it's all a criminal endeavor

imho

[ixion]

2. surge? stronghold? I guess these idiots haven't figured out they're fighting guerrilla tactics

so all the time the US military is 'surging' Al Qaida is simply stepping out of the way and letting the military surge to their heart's content. Then, when they're done 'surging' they continue. Such are the tactics of guerrilla warfare, but we still haven't figured that out. :eyes: