Article

2005-03-15 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by Steve 2005-03-15 9:16:08 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The Iraqi police know how to play the family angle, which to Western eyes is bizarre. For example, if it is clear that the family is behind the attackers, then arresting the head of the family (usually an extended family, often with several dozen members) often gets the attention, and often the surrender, of the terrorists.

No complaints here. That's how their system works, and if it gets results, more power to 'em.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-03-15 10:10:42 AM|| 2005-03-15 10:10:42 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 I would like to think that money is running short in the terrorist camp. However, if the number of attacks remain constant (which they have been), I don't know what the evidence for this is.

I've been waiting for the terrorists to start running short of high class weapons which I think are easier to reduce.

Posted by mhw 2005-03-15 11:21:33 AM|| 2005-03-15 11:21:33 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 mhw- The number of IED's & such is irrelevant. The costs of which they are speaking is the cost of actually hitting, not of shooting. An IED is cheap, especially with stockpiled explosives all over the country, but if we can kill/eliminate those who provide the financial support to the families of the terrorists then we can elminate part of the root that makes the terrorism possible.

Posted by Jame Retief 2005-03-15 11:26:10 AM|| 2005-03-15 11:26:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 MHW, not sure that the number of attacks remains constant, or the number of reports of attacks in the MSM remains constant. The two are not directly related.

Posted by john 2005-03-15 11:30:28 AM|| 2005-03-15 11:30:28 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 This is how things work. I have always said when the Iraqis start taking over results will start showing. The Iraqi dont think in PC terms and consult lawyers like our people have to. When you are looking for a enemy then you go get him his friends his family everyone until he pops up. The PC BS has been holding us back since the begining.

Posted by C-Low 2005-03-15 11:31:36 AM|| 2005-03-15 11:31:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 a family tree was illuminated and shaken

Lovely phrase.

Posted by Dishman 2005-03-15 1:31:46 PM|| 2005-03-15 1:31:46 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 My sense from reading the Iraqi bloggers (e.g., Hammorabi)is that we're about one or two attacks away from the Iraqis showing us that a lamppost is not just for illumination.

Posted by Matt 2005-03-15 1:47:21 PM|| 2005-03-15 1:47:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Having the Iraqi cops and army go after the bad guys is what we need to do. The sooner they can take control the sooner we can turn out effort to other endeavors. Following the Family and Tribal connections is the way we should go at this problem. Everything has connections, finding them and exploiting them no mater how seemingly tenuous can and does pay off. (See James Burke for how odd and tenuous connections can be.)

Posted by Sock Puppet 0â Doom 2005-03-15 2:19:59 PM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-03-15 2:19:59 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 re numbers - IIUC US troops killed in Feb was lowest per day for some months, but still much higher than in early months of occupation. A saw a Centcom source saying some decline in total number of insurgent attacks - but again, thats comparing it to the high numbers of mid and late 2004. I dont know what the numbers are for Iraqi civilian deaths at insurgent/terrorist hands - there was that HUGE blast in Hilla, but other than that it seems like the numbers are slowly declining - more days in single digits than in late 2004.

But Id say its too early to call it a turning point. Instead lets focus on the growth of Iraqi forces, and on their steady takeover of areas like Haifa street.

Posted by liberalhawk 2005-03-15 4:24:54 PM|| 2005-03-15 4:24:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Period US UK Other* Total Avg Days

3-2005 20 0 3 23 1.53 15
2-2005 58 0 2 60 2.14 28
1-2005 107 10 10 127 4.1 31
12-2004 72 2 3 77 2.48 31
11-2004 137 4 0 141 4.7 30

Source

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-03-15 4:36:32 PM|| 2005-03-15 4:36:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 LH I don't know if you're allowed to cross-your-fingers, but if you can... go for it. I see a blessed lowerering and a trend like trend of lesser boom. With that I will pray for you sole. Gawd (lsmft) protect you.

Posted by Fr. Kolac 2005-03-15 6:01:40 PM|| 2005-03-15 6:01:40 PM|| Front Page Top

10:08 Hawk Eye
10:08 Hawk Eye
23:57 Kalle (kafir forever)
23:49 Sobiesky
23:48 3dc
23:44 Laurence of the Rats
23:44 Aris Katsaris
23:43 Sock Puppet 0â Doom
23:39 AzCat
23:16 dcreeper
22:57 Kalle (kafir forever)
22:49 mojo
22:48 Sock Puppet 0â Doom
22:43 Kalle (kafir forever)
22:43 trailing wife
22:40 Kalle (kafir forever)
22:38 Sobiesky
22:33 Bobby
22:30 trailing wife
22:30 Sock Puppet 0â Doom
22:29 SteveS
22:29 AzCat
22:28 anymouse
22:27 Bobby