Article

2008-03-28 Iraq

NY-Times: Iraqi security forces failed for a third straight day to oust Shiite militias from the

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Posted by 3dc 2008-03-28 02:33|| || Front Page|| [9 views ] Top
File under: Lashkar e-Taiba

#1 Translation: they didn't want to expand the conflict, so they used minimal means. The left read failure in everything.

Posted by McZoid 2008-03-28 04:05|| 2008-03-28 04:05|| Front Page Top

#2 The Iraqi Army has to give it all they got. They cannot afford to lose.

Posted by Penguin 2008-03-28 04:08|| 2008-03-28 04:08|| Front Page Top

#3 Surprise meter?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-03-28 05:03|| 2008-03-28 05:03|| Front Page Top

#4 Maybe the news is that they're still at it after meeting resistance? I figure we're giving them a chance to prove themselves, so they're getting minimal support/air-power from us?

Posted by Captain Lewis 2008-03-28 08:29|| 2008-03-28 08:29|| Front Page Top

#5 g: Surprise meter?

Well, Fallujah took weeks using GI's and close air support. There's no way the Iraqis are going to clear out Basra in 3 days without air support (at their own request - which makes sense, given that if either Democrat becomes president, US forces will leave Iraq chop chop - Iraqi forces might as well get used to doing without).

Posted by Zhang Fei">Zhang Fei 2008-03-28 08:53|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-03-28 08:53|| Front Page Top

#6 Idiots (NYT). This will be a several weeks operation. The only way to "clear" a city like Basra is to level it.

F**king MSM, setting wrong expectations and then screaming "failure" when they are not met.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-03-28 08:57|| 2008-03-28 08:57|| Front Page Top

#7 Above should say...

...only way to "clear" a city in 3 days ...

We kinda proved that in Hiroshima and Nagasaki - we "cleared" all the resistance in those cities overnight.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-03-28 08:59|| 2008-03-28 08:59|| Front Page Top

#8 How long did it take the British to clear Basra during the invasion? Two weeks, IIRC.

Posted by Mitch H.">Mitch H. 2008-03-28 09:06|| http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/]">[http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/] 2008-03-28 09:06|| Front Page Top

#9 The tater tots probably haven't thought through the problems of ammunition resupply so a multi week fight is not a good thing for them.

In addition, a multiweek action probably allows for many more dead tater tots, as opposed to having them run back to Sadr City or where-ever.

Also, a multiweek action gives a better chance of capturing some live Persians who might be 'persuaded' to go on Iraqi TV and give their story.

Posted by mhw 2008-03-28 09:13|| 2008-03-28 09:13|| Front Page Top

#10 The violence underscored the fragile nature of the security improvements partly credited to the American troop increase that began last year.

Ahhh yesthe ole 3 legged stool pitch. An oldie but a goodie! What scammer and used-car salesman hasnt used that one at least once or twice? Basically the metaphor is spun by saying that if one leg is pulled then the whole shootin-match collapses. Remember now, to be most persuasive the ~~mark~~ consumer should imagine that all the legs carry equal weight. You know the drillYeah that troop surge thingy may have helped alittle but we certainly couldnt have done it without the help of our favorite Firebrand cleric Mookie.

Posted by DepotGuy 2008-03-28 09:21|| 2008-03-28 09:21|| Front Page Top

#11 Looks like the Iraqis have requested the first air strikes of this operation.

Posted by Zhang Fei">Zhang Fei 2008-03-28 09:25|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-03-28 09:25|| Front Page Top

#12 What if these idiots had been around for D-Day?

Normandy, June 9 1944
"Allied forces failed for a third straight day to oust German occupiers from France."

Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2008-03-28 09:32|| 2008-03-28 09:32|| Front Page Top

#13 Looks like the Iraqis have requested the first air strikes of this operation.

Of course, Al Reuters trots out a picture of a man carrying a wounded child next to the headline.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-03-28 09:32|| 2008-03-28 09:32|| Front Page Top

#14 1. Times thinks this is like Israelis - who HAVE to win within days of a serious engagement beginning before the inevitable UNSC resolution is passed. No UNSC res here, no similar deadline

2. There IS the issue of the Green Zone. The longer it takes to win in Basra, the more time the taters have to fire at the emerald city. Which can get embarassing to the US, forcing a maybe premature attack on Sadr City. Which seems to have already begun.

3. Then theres the "civilians are starving" tactic. already hearing that in Basra. Not sure the Iraqi forces know how to handle that.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-03-28 09:38|| 2008-03-28 09:38|| Front Page Top

#15 The national government would prefer to negotiate a solution, because the alternative is going to kill a lot of people and wreck a lot of the city. Also, the Sadr revolt looses face if it negotiates a solution rather than dying as martyrs.

Posted by Chuck Simmins">Chuck Simmins 2008-03-28 09:39|| http://northshorejournal.org]">[http://northshorejournal.org] 2008-03-28 09:39|| Front Page Top

#16 Iraq the model is reporting that the upcoming Iraq election is driving events. The current government wants to stay in power and is striking at Sadr, a rival. Call me cynical, but NOW I believe the Iraq Army is serious about completing this task; their bosses continued employment depends on it. Enlightened self interest can be a beautiful thing.

Posted by Zebulon Unomolet6509 2008-03-28 10:48|| 2008-03-28 10:48|| Front Page Top

#17 If Sadr is winning why is he asking for a truce?

Posted by JFM">JFM 2008-03-28 11:53|| 2008-03-28 11:53|| Front Page Top

#18 I personally cleared Basra in only one day.

Posted by Hillary Clinton 2008-03-28 12:58|| 2008-03-28 12:58|| Front Page Top

#19 #18 I personally cleared Basra in only one day.

and yes Hillary don't forgets that you donated all dat blood to every combatant who needed any too...

or waz that Chelsea??..

Posted by Hillary sycophant">Hillary sycophant 2008-03-28 14:24|| 2008-03-28 14:24|| Front Page Top

#20 Hillary, you must have had a lot of fiber in your diet to do that.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-03-28 14:44|| 2008-03-28 14:44|| Front Page Top

#21 Nice picture of the dead kid lying on the morgue floor. Does the Slimes even know how morally bankrupt it is?

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-03-28 15:59|| 2008-03-28 15:59|| Front Page Top

#22 Does any rational person in this country care ANYTHING about what that rag has to say except maybe the Sunday crossword puzzle?

Who cares what that piece of crap waste of good fish wrap has to say....f@#$!!#@ em

Posted by Sock Puppet of Texas 2008-03-28 22:19|| 2008-03-28 22:19|| Front Page Top

#23 I DID NOT have sex with that woman............

Why did I EVER have sex with that woman.

What's arabic for harpy?

Shrew?

Posted by Bill Clinton 2008-03-28 22:22|| 2008-03-28 22:22|| Front Page Top

#24 #11: Looks like the Iraqis have requested the first air strikes of this operation.

Wouldn't be on Times Square by any chance, would it?

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2008-03-28 22:49|| 2008-03-28 22:49|| Front Page Top

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