November 14, 2004

THANKS, ZARQAWI:


U.S. Closes In, but Fallouja's Rebels Persist: Insurgents are pinned down, and up to 1,600 have been killed, but 'this thing's not over,' a Marine commander says. At least 22 U.S. troops have died. (Patrick J. McDonnell and Ashraf Khalil, November 14, 2004, LA Times)

U.S. commanders said Saturday that they had established at least loose control over almost all of Fallouja, and estimated that 1,600 insurgents had been killed during the six-day battle to reclaim the city from the rebels.

As Marine units continued to press southward through the city, 1st Marine Division commander Maj. Gen. Richard F. Natonski said the battle had come down to "pockets of determined resistance" by increasingly hemmed-in militants.

Fighting continued throughout the city, but at a diminished pace, commanders reported.

"There are no high-fives yet," said Lt. Col. Gareth Brandl, commander of the 1st Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment, which has seen some of the fiercest fighting. "This thing's not over."


Let's hope not. The only hard part of defeating an insurgency is finding the insurgents--when they come to you it's a gift.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 14, 2004 8:56 AM
Comments

Though many have disagreed, one thing that makes the most sense about going into Iraq was the so-called "fly-paper" strategy.

Though no one could openly admit it, it appears obvious (to me anyway) that one of the reasons Bush "utterly failed" to secure the borders is that he wanted to let as many fighters in as possible.

Taking this one step further, it seems obvious that the "blunder" on not "finishing" Fallujah in May was "fly paper" writ small.

I can hear the strains of Crosby, Stills & Nashs song...

"So Saddam is bound and gagged, and they'll tried him for the chair,

Won't you please come to Fallujah just the same.

In a land once run by Sunni's how can such a thing be fair,

Won't you please come to Fallujah, for help that you can bring...."

Paging Mr. Shanklin

Posted by: BB at November 14, 2004 11:52 AM

You don't want any US casualties but 1600 to 22 is pretty impressive (even if Yahoo's number of 31 is correct still impressive)

Posted by: AWW at November 14, 2004 12:22 PM

Especially when there are only about 10,000 of these loonballs there. Losing 16% of your force in a week, as well as your strongest base of operations is not a good sign.

I doubt many more potential Jihadniks from around the world will see Iraq as a good opportunity. Perhaps, they'll pick France or Canada instead.

Posted by: Bart at November 15, 2004 12:34 PM

The hard part -- though you'd think it would be easy -- in putting down an insurgency is to provide an alternative government that commands popular support.

Posted by: Harry Eagar at November 15, 2004 10:24 PM

Why? We can just keep knocking the extreemists off when they try running things.

Posted by: oj at November 15, 2004 10:31 PM
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