I wish our forces the best of luck, but I have to wonder, if Iraqi was getting better everyday, than why was it necessary to launch the largest airborne attack since the start of the war three years ago?

I wish this administration would tell us the truth for once.

Now there's some *positive* news for a change! I'll bet this will be the decisive battle that finally turns the tide in both Iraq and in the polls. It reminds me of our great victory in Cambodia, so many years ago.

I wonder if they had "Ride of the Valkeries" blaring from the Blackhawks as they swooped down on the unsuspecting towns -- I mean al Qaeda strongholds?

I see it now, after the rolling thunder offense, er er I mean the Swarm Offense, George will declare victory and pull all troops out, just in time for the Republicans to win the congressional elections.

But then, Matt, George was going to pull all the troops out a month or two before the Congressional elections right? seems he is getting disparate eh?

Sounds like they are trying to avert a civil war that isn't really there according to some people here.

What's behind the name "swarmer"?

Why not change it to Operation waste of American tax payer money. Since more than 50% of Americans disapprove of both Bush and his bullshit war!

I wish this administration would tell us the truth for once.

I wish Baloney would jump in front of a bus for once. It's "then," Baloney, not "than."

Hey wanker, how are ya? Still got that fetish?

May God bless and protect our troops.

RPaine

I think there are 2 objectives for this attack: to train Iraqis and to make good on intellegence that pointed toward al-Qaeda in the area, maybe even al-Zarqawi.

People don't understand what "air assault" is. My husband served with the 82nd in Operation Iraqi Freedom from '03-04. Before that we were with the 3/187, Rakassans, 101st, the same unit that is fighing this operation now. "Air Assault" simply means, not bombing from the air, but troops being delivered by the air. Sometimes the soldiers, as with Black Hawk Down, rope down from a chopper into the combat zone. Other times they land and exit the chopper. That's "air assault".

The Bush Administration isn't hiding anything. You're thinking of the Clinton administration. It is the largest air assault because we're training the Iraqi military to do rather sophisticated combat operations; that's the news.

Of course the Iraqis don't have any helicopters of their own -- I guess some air assault training can't hurt though. Are we going to leave them some of ours when we bug out?

Amy, it appears you hit the nail on the head. This is a Time article just published on Operation Swarmer:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1174448,00.html

I hope this operation is quick and the communication is quick. I was in Operation Sudden Fury and Just Cause (S-3) which were quickly executed(communication error - not a good idea).Fortunately,I left before the communications were bad in Mogadishu.I lost some good friends.

Air Assault is executed by rappel and fast rope with backup from AC-130.This is the Ranger way or light infantry deployment."8-balls"(1/4 stick of C-4 with blasting cap primer with primercord)to access the inside of a building from the top.if it is clear they are using airborne troops it can be termed 'airborne operation'.One of the previous posts to mine is stated loud and clear, we did rappel in Sudden Fury,Just Cause was a combination of fast roping on roof tops to extract friendly's the 7th ID helped us by confusing confusion on the ground playing loud "rock n' roll".It drew "Pineapplehead" Noreiga out into the open.Almost of this is declassified.

My husband is somewhere in Operation Swarmer. I have not spoken to him in a long time. I miss him very much and hope all the soldiers soon get rest from this mission. I always stand behind the leader of my country but I also long for my husband. I pray for all the troops and their families. Let's not lose hope yet!