WASHINGTON - US forces have killed or captured 170 foreign fighters in northwestern Iraq, most of whom are believed to have infiltrated the country from Syria, a US general said on Friday.| An excellent start. |
Rodriguez said that about 70 foreign fighters have been captured in his area of operations over the past three months, and about 100 more have been killed in suicide attacks or engagements with US forces.
The general said his forces have made progress in disrupting the leadership of insurgent groups in his area since the January 30 elections. He said 62
The incidence and effectiveness of roadside explosions has decreased by 20 percent, he said. Unlike trends elsewhere in Iraq, US forces are finding that the sophistication of the bombs has also declined, he said. Rodriguez attributed the decline in part to the disruption of the leadership of the insurgency as well as to the greater willingness of Iraqis to tip off coalition forces to the presence of bombs.
| Every time I visit the leftie blogs I read the same nonsense about how we're doomed, Irag is a quagmire and a failure, the people hate us, our presence triggers more attacks -- y'all know the drill. Then I read from the horses mouths, as it were, our soldiers, Iraqi bloggers, embedded reporters, and I realize (again) that the lefties have no clue. There's a willful ignorance about what's actually going on in Iraq on their part. I'd point them to Chrenkoff's good news but they wouldn't believe it. General Rodriguez makes the point again without meaning to -- the 'greater willingness of Iraqis to tip off coalition forces to the presence of bombs'. Why would the locals do that if they all hate our guts? Umm, maybe they don't all hate our guts? Over to you, Kos. |