Article

2006-10-17 Iraq

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Posted by Bobby 2006-10-17 06:32|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Is there an end in sight to hidden weapons ?
Anybody ?

Posted by wxjames 2006-10-17 10:06|| 2006-10-17 10:06|| Front Page Top

#2 no

Posted by sinse 2006-10-17 10:16|| 2006-10-17 10:16|| Front Page Top

#3 good question, WX. When we went in 2003, one of the reason I thought this could NOT be like Viet Nam, was cause the VC relied on weapons over the ho chi minh trail, which we always had difficulty cutting off, and which came from sanctuary in the North, etc. Here, if weapons came across the borders,A. the terrain would be easier to patrol than So Viet Nams western borders, and anyway we'd apply full force against the neighbors if necessary.

This analysis proved faulty.

1. The Saddamite regime apparently stockpiled HUGE arsenals (relative the needs of an insurgency) across the country, and even after over 3 years of hunting, we havent tracked it all down (nor have the baddies used it up_
2. Despite the lack of jungle, the Iraqi borders are not easy to patrol (esp the mountain border with Iran, I think) Also of course, we have far fewer troops than in Viet Nam, so we rely on Iraqis to do that job, mainly. And given the continued need for the best Iraqi units to fight the insurgency, the ones patrolling the border are not the most efficient or honest, AFAIK.
3. With strained relations with our allies, a divided homefront, a homefront that has not been asked for sacrifices, etc, etc, the admin has not been able to see its way to threatening war with Iran or Syria purely on the issue of smuggling weapons. Perhaps this is also an issued of adequate evidence, which gets to ongoing intell problems.

Posted by liberalhawk 2006-10-17 11:31|| 2006-10-17 11:31|| Front Page Top

#4 The "huge arsenal" gets very little media coverage. I would like to see a summary of munitions (by weight/type, not by count) discovered and destroyed in Iraq since the invasion. I'm guessing it's in the range of hundreds of tonsso far, and no telling how much more remains to be discovered.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2006-10-17 19:08|| 2006-10-17 19:08|| Front Page Top

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