Let's just see if it works.

Hard to imagine why so many Iraqis like killing each other so much.

LeMano,

Shiite area - oil. Kurdish area - oil. Sunni area - no oil.

We will never win this war on terrorism at home or abroad until we defeat the enemy within. The enemy within the left wing media, education, hollywood, and the buracracy at large. You cannot defeat these people with mere words alone.

Noonan:
--You are too optimistic as usual. Terrorists are like mercury, you poke at them, it splits and gathers somewhere else.
--Just another tactic in a hopeless case. I know you will consider me a defeatist but I am just a realist. Reality Bites. But reality is rarely intruding into the neo-con head.

Canukunich - thanks for your support.

"You are too optimistic as usual."

Yea unbridled pessimism always accomplishes so much.

"Terrorists are like mercury, you poke at them, it splits and gathers somewhere else."

Yea and not doing anything is so much easier...is american idol on yet.

"Just another tactic in a hopeless case."

No expecting you to have courage, fortitude, persistence or commitment is a hopeless cause.

"I know you will consider me a defeatist but I am just a realist."

Uh..yea..right. Your obviously drawing on your many years of experience in fighting or your advanced degree in military strategy or extensive knowledge of previous insurgencies....not.

"But reality is rarely intruding into the neo-con head."

Wow, look at that iron clad logic. What an insightful mind. You've convinced me....lol...your a joke...no your canadian...same difference.

Canuck,

Zoot said it - but I'll just ad that a nation which would simultaneously fight and defeat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan can take care of the problem of terrorism.

I refuse the coward's way out of this.

The difference with fighting Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan is this: they had armies and they fought the same way we did.

The problem with terrorism can best be compared to Viet Nam. No armies, couldn't recognize them if they were standing in front of you. Looked just like the rest of the population.

Fighting terrorists with the military is like trying to kill flies with a 45. Not real effective.

We need to think like them, if we want to stop them.

Mark,

Canuk is unhappy because this war should have been over by now. Cmon dont you know that to TV educated numbskulls all lifes problems should be solved in an hour...well maybe 2 if its a continued episode.

Thats the reality of their reality based delusion.

"only a matter of time" ? It has been three and a half years. And there is no end in sight.

I wish I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"I wish I could see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Perhaps it would be easier if you pulled your head out.

The difference with fighting Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan is this: they had armies and they fought the same way we did.

Baloney. The Nazis and the Japanese fought in profoundly different ways than we did and even in different ways from each other. Examples abound - suggest you read a few history books on the war and the fighting and you will see the vast differences.

The problem with terrorism can best be compared to Viet Nam.

Now, you go off and confuse things even worse. Did you ever hear the phrase "NVA?" Ever wonder what that was? North Vietnamese Army. Huh. Well that puts the lie to that statement, doesn't it? There was also the VC - standing for Viet Cong - a group of fighters who were primarily guerilla fighters. Do you think they are the same as terrorists? You are very, very wrong and naive to boot if you do. The NVA supplied the VC via the Ho Chi Minh trail. VC wore uniforms. They had every imaginable weapon system and they operated in fighting units. After spending three tours in Viet Nam and then going back and working as a civilian in the Saigon area, I can attest to all of what I just said. You are dead wrong about Viet Nam and its relevance to terrorists.

No armies, couldn't recognize them if they were standing in front of you. Looked just like the rest of the population.

Wrong.

Fighting terrorists with the military is like trying to kill flies with a 45. Not real effective.

You just keep believing that. Get yourself a Trac phone, head to Pakistan and join up. Then come on back into the battle ground and tell me how it goes for you. Platitudes and wishful thinking is all you provide and none of it has any basis in fact.

We need to think like them, if we want to stop them.

More simplistic nonsense. We need to defeat them; offer them no refuge; punish the supporters who keep them in arms and provide them places to escape to and hide. We don't need "smarter" warfare - our troops and their technology is the smartest force in the world. What we need to do is stop playing the proxy game and go after those who support the terrorists like Iran and Syria. That includes the hate-mongering mullahs. If we convinced them to stop even we have to use force to do it, the fighters would give up immediately. Read your history. They've been defeated before many times for a thousand years.

I wish I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I wish you'd crawl back under your libbie rock.

We will never win this war on terrorism at home or abroad until we defeat the enemy within. The enemy within the left wing media, education, hollywood, and the buracracy at large. You cannot defeat these people with mere words alone.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Andrew. Until the left in this country is held accountable for its treasonous behaviour, we'll never be able to prosecute this war the way it should be prosecuted.

In other words, we need to prosecute the traitors here in our own country, send them all to Git'mo, and win this thing.

We need to think like them, if we want to stop them.

No, we need to act like them, but the ACLU won't allow it. War

[deleted, violation of comment policy]

Great Post ANDREW,

Yes, Indeed!

The democrats are the problem with a America and the world today!
We must stop the Evil media, Hollywood, liberal educators and so-forth!!

For they have turned away and follow satan now!!

We must fight for the sake of Jesus,It is about Jesus everyday, We must do our part we must up-hold His teachings and do His-will!!
And His reward will follow!

1 Timothy 6:15

"Which God will bring about in His own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in un-approachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and might forever.Amen."

Jeremiah

What treasonous behavior, keefer? That we don't follow lock-step with Bush's bullshit reasons to invade Iraq?

Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

Find the door, troll....

TL,

STAY AWAY FROM B4B I'M SICK AND TIRED OF YOU SPEWING YOUR HATRED!!

Jeremiah

TL,
Send your guardian, parent, parole officer

here

STAY AWAY FROM B4B I'M SICK AND TIRED OF YOU SPEWING YOUR HATRED!!

How am I spewing hatred, Jeremiah? Curious.

"How am I spewing hatred, Jeremiah? Curious."

TL,

That's not the question!

The question is: WHY DO YOU SPEW HATRED? WHY ARE YOU SO FILLED WITH HATE? WHY DO YOU HATE THE PRESIDENT?

Hatred can only be, because of one reason, and that one reason the ONLY reason, Is the plain and simple fact that you are lost and you don't know Jesus Christ!!

Well, All I can do is bring you a message of HOPE!!! I plant the seed and somebody else will come along and water it, and another will nourish it and so-forth!!

Jesus said: "It's not my will that any should perish but that ALL would come to repentence"

You'll never be happy TL going the route that you are going, and a big part of the reason that you are headed in the wrong direction is because you have had no up-bringing!! You have been neglected, deprived of the necessary priorities that you should have been taught!!

And that is the problem with America today, because people have not been teaching their children in the love and admiration of Christ!!
And the longer you go without giving respect to the Lord, the more dangerous it is for your soul, and when you reject the Holy Spirit(God's calling)at some point He will just quit aking you into your life, and that is a scary thought knowing that the Lord would totally shut you out from His presence, that's called BLASPHEMY! a terrible, terrible thing to happen!!

So don't put Him off, accept Him and He'll bless you!!

I'll be praying for you!!!

Jeremiah

Jeremiah:
--Easy boy, take a pill. It seems to me that you are as crazed as the fanatical Muslim mullahs. I would not be surprised if you think that TL should be burnt at the stake to drive the evil from his body. You belong back in the Middle Ages where such outdoor public barbecues were regular fare.

[deleted, offensive]

Canuckguy,

No, I don't belong back in the middle ages!!

TL needs to grow up and see the light!, and I get very upset with his hatred, His only intention is to come here to hurt people, I feel sorry for him.

God put me here for a purpose and that purpose was to be a light to those who don't know Him!

You know, He wants you to be a light for them too!
The thing is, will you let Him come into your life, and make you a happy person!!

If not? then you serve as an exemplar for who will be sent to *ell!! Did you know that!

Do you want people to go to *ell because of your actions? but that's what's going to happen, many young people look at your life and say I want to be just like him, not knowing the fate that awaits them!
That is a shame that you would want to lead people to *ell! You don't even realize what you are doing to yourself! and the people around you!

That's what the devil wants, he's got you just where he wants you! and make no mistake if you don't wake up, the flames of *ell will reach right up and grab you, and pull you down to an eternal suffering!

Or...You can ask Jesus into your life and he'll take you home one fine day, and all your worries and cares will all be left behind!! something that everybody should want!! No more worries, no more pain, no more sorrow, You see Jesus paid for it all, and has prepared a place in heaven for you, all you have to do is confess that you are a sinner, and that you would like to be made a new person!!

Don't mislead people into believing that it's ok to live a life dis-pleasing to the Lord!!

Jeremiah

Canuckguy,

No, I don't belong back in the middle ages!!

TL needs to grow up and see the light!, and I get very upset with his hatred, His only intention is to come here to hurt people, I feel sorry for him.

God put me here for a purpose and that purpose was to be a light to those who don't know Him!

You know, He wants you to be a light for them too!
The thing is, will you let Him come into your life, and make you a happy person!!

If not? then you serve as an exemplar for who will be sent to *ell!! Did you know that!

Do you want people to go to *ell because of your actions? but that's what's going to happen, many young people look at your life and say I want to be just like him, not knowing the fate that awaits them!
That is a shame that you would want to lead people to *ell! You don't even realize what you are doing to yourself! and the people around you!

That's what the devil wants, he's got you just where he wants you! and make no mistake if you don't wake up, the flames of *ell will reach right up and grab you, and pull you down to an eternal suffering!

Or...You can ask Jesus into your life and he'll take you home one fine day, and all your worries and cares will all be left behind!! something that everybody should want!! No more worries, no more pain, no more sorrow, You see Jesus paid for it all, and has prepared a place in heaven for you, all you have to do is confess that you are a sinner, and that you would like to be made a new person!!

Don't mislead people into believing that it's ok to live a life dis-pleasing to the Lord!!

Accept Jesus into you life today! and you'll feel a presence that you have never known before!

Jeremiah

mary s.,

Thanks, I was wondering what TL wrote that got deleted. She doesn't bother me with her hate; Jeremiah will pray for her.

Jeremiah, it may be too late for TL. Pray hard. War

This past March, following the mosque bombing in Samarrah, CENTCOM announced the largest air assault since the war began, covering a wide area of the Salah ad Din province (Samarrah is in Salah ad Din), and using joint US and Iraqi forces. At the time we were told the object was to grab and hold territory, and thus pacify the area. The attack, as you recall, was touted as a huge success. It was, in fact, the topic of one of Mark's posts back in March (or early April, I forget which) -- not unlike the present one.

So I decided to look into how things are going there these days. I found a little blurb posted by CNSNews -- not exactly the most liberal news outlet -- of a map of Iraq that reported the number of attacks PER DAY in each province for the time period of May 20 - July 21, 2006. That would be for a two month time period starting about 3 months FOLLOWING the presumably successful grab and hold assault there in Salah ad Din. But as you can see from the map, Salah ad Din was still tied for third with Diyala province at 15 ATTACKS PER DAY (Baghdad and al Anbar were tied for first with 30/day).

That's not good news.

What IS good news is that we are starting to be able to conduct simultaneous offensive operations in more than one hot spot -- both Baghdad and Ramadi are getting some serious attention at the same time, at long last. So hopefully the "whack-a-mole" approach is finally at an end. Hopefully. Then again, maybe it's too early to tell. The official MNF site
has an expanded article on the Doura campaign in which it is reported that in addition to various weapons, explosives and stolen vehicles seized, thus far "38 suspected insurgents, including three foreign fighters, have been detained". Hmm... 38 insurgents captured after cordoning off and searching 5500 homes (1/3 of the neighborhood). Better than none, I guess. But still, Doura is generally considered the worst neighborhood of the worst neighborhoods in Baghdad. Where did they go? And after scouring the neighborhood, authority will be transferred to the Iraqi police, as I understand it. I hope that goes well.

WaPo recently published a good article on the Ramadi campaign (that's in the al-Anbar province). Ramadi is one of those areas surrendered to the insurgents soon after the insurgency got rolling back in mid-2003 because, well... apparently there just weren't enough troops on the ground. And unlike Najaf and Tal Afar, both of which have been taken and re-taken a couple of times so far, up to now coalition forces haven't even bothered trying to retake the area until recently because, well... apparently there just weren't enough troops. Anyway, I wish them the best of luck. Of course, neither Najaf or Tal Afar are exactly peaceful these days. Just a few days ago (Friday) 35 people were killed and over 100 wounded in Najaf in yet another mosque bombing. Tal Afar has had its share of violence as well. But at least the insurgents no longer run the places. Let's hope it continues that way, finally.

More ominous is this Al-Jazeera article entitled, Iraqis openly discuss dividing their nation. That's not good news. That would open a whole new can of worms. Then again, I'm beginning to think it may be the only practical solution left. But it won't sit well with the neighbors -- except Iran, of course. I'm sure they'd be thrilled with the idea. My impression is they're pretty much counting on it. What better way to ensure Iraq never again rises to challenge them?

Hopefully my first attempt at this post won't make it beyond the blue screen -- because it didn't include the first couple of lines. But if it does, this is what it's supposed to say...

This past March, following the mosque bombing in Samarrah, CENTCOM announced the largest air assault since the war began, covering a wide area of the Salah ad Din province (Samarrah is in Salah ad Din), and using joint US and Iraqi forces. At the time we were told the object was to grab and hold territory, and thus pacify the area. The attack, as you recall, was touted as a huge success. It was, in fact, the topic of one of Mark's posts back in March (or early April, I forget which) -- not unlike the present one.

So I decided to look into how things are going there these days. I found a little blurb posted by CNSNews -- not exactly the most liberal news outlet -- of a map of Iraq that reported the number of attacks PER DAY in each province for the time period of May 20 - July 21, 2006. That would be for a two month time period starting about 3 months FOLLOWING the presumably successful grab and hold assault there in Salah ad Din. But as you can see from the map, Salah ad Din was still tied for third with Diyala province at 15 ATTACKS PER DAY (Baghdad and al Anbar were tied for first with 30/day).

That's not good news.

What IS good news is that we are starting to be able to conduct simultaneous offensive operations in more than one hot spot -- both Baghdad and Ramadi are getting some serious attention at the same time, at long last. So hopefully the "whack-a-mole" approach is finally at an end. Hopefully. Then again, maybe it's too early to tell. The official MNF site
has an expanded article on the Doura campaign in which it is reported that in addition to various weapons, explosives and stolen vehicles seized, thus far "38 suspected insurgents, including three foreign fighters, have been detained". Hmm... 38 insurgents captured after cordoning off and searching 5500 homes (1/3 of the neighborhood). Better than none, I guess. But still, Doura is generally considered the worst neighborhood of the worst neighborhoods in Baghdad. Where did they go? And after scouring the neighborhood, authority will be transferred to the Iraqi police, as I understand it. I hope that goes well.

WaPo recently published a good article on the Ramadi campaign (that's in the al-Anbar province). Ramadi is one of those areas surrendered to the insurgents soon after the insurgency got rolling back in mid-2003 because, well... apparently there just weren't enough troops on the ground. And unlike Najaf and Tal Afar, both of which have been taken and re-taken a couple of times so far, up to now coalition forces haven't even bothered trying to retake the area until recently because, well... apparently there just weren't enough troops. Anyway, I wish them the best of luck. Of course, neither Najaf or Tal Afar are exactly peaceful these days. Just a few days ago (Friday) 35 people were killed and over 100 wounded in Najaf in yet another mosque bombing. Tal Afar has had its share of violence as well. But at least the insurgents no longer run the places. Let's hope it continues that way, finally.

More ominous is this Al-Jazeera article entitled, Iraqis openly discuss dividing their nation. That's not good news. That would open a whole new can of worms. Then again, I'm beginning to think it may be the only practical solution left. But it won't sit well with the neighbors -- except Iran, of course. I'm sure they'd be thrilled with the idea. My impression is they're pretty much counting on it. What better way to ensure Iraq never again rises to challenge them?