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| Iraq |
| MIchael Yon reports from Baqubah |
| 2007-06-19 |
| E-mail to the Instapundit (emphasis added): Baqubah is surrounded by our forces and there is sharp fighting. Apaches firing occasionally, artillery, air strikes and some loud rockets that flew in all the way from Fallujah. Casualties on both sides, but looks like first day is going well. I was present when LTC Fred Johnson informed Iraqi officials that the city is surrounded. LTC Johnson was forthright about the attacks unfolding. There was gunfire just outside during the first meetings. The biggest part of the plan is to trap and kill as many al Qaeda as possible, and to eventually leave the city completely in Iraqi hands. The Iraqi leaders I have seen are thankful and are taking part. Their biggest complaint was that the attack started just as students are trying to take their National Exams. So, early today there was a large gathering of students who wanted to take the exams, but the schools are closed. Bad news is that this is the latest serious disruption to Iraqi lives, but I do find it heartening that the biggest complaint is about the National Exams. It's hard not to respect people who see helicopters shooting rockets, and who are hearing the explosions from the shells and rockets, yet they are thinking about exams. This is a serious battle, and much more important that the news is making out. My guess is that most media have little idea of the consequences or magnitude of the Battle for Baqubah, and so it's slipping by. I've posted on the attack: http://michaelyon-online.com/wp/be-not-afraid.htm |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #10 the tail end contains: The idea this time is not to chase al Qaeda out, but to trap and kill them head-on, or in ambushes, or while they sleep. When they are wounded, they will be unable to go to hospitals without being captured, and so their wounds will fester and they will die painfully sometimes. It will be horrible for al Qaeda. Horror and terrorism is what they sow, and tonight they will reap their harvest. They will get no rest. They can only fight and die, or run and try to get away. Nobody is asking for surrender, but if they surrender, they will be taken. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-06-19 18:20 |
| #9 I sure hope everyone is reading the full dispatch from Michael Yon...and forwarding the link on. Truly amazing. Godspeed to Michael, and of course to our fighting men & women. |
| Posted by: Justrand 2007-06-19 15:51 |
| #8 Anguper: Please note the Blue Boxes as they appear in the site below. They are the Clear & Hold. http://billroggio.com/flashplayer.php?media=anbarcampaign&w=800&h=600 |
| Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC 2007-06-19 15:19 |
| #7 My sense of things in Fallujah was that after the conquest of Baghdad, we allowed Fallujah a form of self govt and during this time Al Q bribed their way in during the next few months. |
| Posted by: mhw 2007-06-19 15:03 |
| #6 Mark Steyn visited Fallujah shortly after Saddam's regime was overthrown. He was neither molested, burned alive, nor killed by any other method. That was the closest Fallujah ever came to being manageable. The torture rooms & bomb factories of Fallujah were constructed after the US occupied Iraq. The US allowed Fallujah to go to hell. AQ sprung up in the Iraqi vacuum the US created & then fostered by neglect. Catch-and-release, occupy-and-leave tactics have gained little besides casualties. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-06-19 14:48 |
| #5 He infers that Anbar Province was restive but manageable until we went into Fallujah and Ramadi “Ham Handed” I thought that too when I read his article. Apparently he doesn't remember the torture rooms, bomb factories and other AQ hallmarks. That is why we went in the first place. Unfortunately, between assault I and assault II, most of AQ hightailed it out of there. Otherwise I think Iraq would be almost pacified. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-06-19 14:14 |
| #3 This is Diyala Province and the supply lines from Iran to the Sunni 'insurgents' almost certainly run through the area. Areas north and south are Kurd and Shiia dominated. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2007-06-19 11:23 |
| #2 Any time terrorists are dying, it is positive. Keep the pressure up. Never let off. Hunt them. Kill them. No quarter. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-06-19 10:06 |
| #1 I get this feeling that this thing is coming to a boil. Petraeus has been overly cautious in his assessments and is giving out the "long play" strategy which may be self-fulfilling but may also be the "expect the worst, be pleasantly surprised" kind of attitude he wants to project. In any event, we are out of the barracks and back to the business at hand. That can only be positive. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-06-19 09:47 |