Iraq launches Baghdad crackdown

[goldman]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4591181.stm

[seruriermarshal]

We give those terrorists two days

:|

[ElHombre]

and then what?

how long does anyone think the iraqi gov't can keep those troops in the field?

[Dalleer]

Hit em' hard.

[Argyll]

What a really intelligent thing to announce to the bad guys that a major Operation was imminent........ :roll:

Those with the bombs will have had days to move them to different locations,weapons caches dug up and re-buried elsewhere......VBIED's driven out of the city into rural hides........................just fcuking perfect!!!!

[Miles.]

So this was a major **** up? That pretty ****ing bad if that's the case. What entity let it be know that operation was imminent? US? Iraqi Govt?

[Bia]

This is so when a few civilains die....the US isnt accused of arbitrarily attacking a heavy civilian populated area without a nice advance warning.
Also....this helps the forces identify and locate new movement by the enemy.

These soldiers know damn well what they are doing.....it's the politicians that are morons.

[Michael RVR]

I don't know if i agree with the sentiment. It may have been a priority that weapons / explosives etc be removed from the Capital so that rebuilding can take place, and people can get some work done etc.. just a theory though ;)

I seriously doubt it would have been unintentional.

[Pandy]

Moreless a warning saying that "if you don't get out, we'll **** you up at 9:00AM on Sunday." Guess what we're gonna do on 9:00AM on Sunday.

And we keep doing this all the time till two years from now and then we say. "There will be a Trident II D-5 Missile Test on Baghdad on Sunday, 9:00AM. Civilians.... watch out."

;)

Oh well.

[ckabusk]

But I dont understand why did they revealed this plan before it begins, it gave those terrorists more time to withdrawal from Baghdad. This is so pathetic strategy because they probably have been moved numerous of weapon caches to another locations and use them there.

It sounds like triple number of terrorists have left.

[Michael RVR]

If the objective was purely to remove the Insurgents and their weapons from Baghdad, i'd say it's been pretty successful then wouldn't you?

[demotivater]

I'm sure there are things we're not privy to. Don't rely on the press for your intelligence, if the insurgents are, then good on them. Eat what we feed you, and as your hauling ass to the next town, you run into a checkpoint and get smoked.

I'm sure there's more to the story.

[Miles.]

Hope so. :| Good luck out there, Argyll!! :hug:

[ElHombre]

If the objective was purely to remove the Insurgents and their weapons from Baghdad, i'd say it's been pretty successful then wouldn't you?

removing them is only a small part of the overall problem. we have to keep them out. the insurgents have already shown elsewhere in iraq that they can disappear from overt shows of strength. they then wait until that show of strength has to return to their bases as there is not enough manpower to control large areas. the insurgents then return.

in any case the real point of this operation is to let the iraqi gov't prove that it can defend its own citizens without the help of the US.

[Rictor]

good idea: announcing a major military operation to all the big news outlets a week in advance.

better idea: sealing off a city of 5 million people, then turning the place into a war zone, with all the people still inside.

I stand in awe of the sheer brilliance of the plan. Furthermore, I forsee absolutely no civlian casualties.

[Sayeret]

What a really intelligent thing to announce to the bad guys that a major Operation was imminent........ :roll:

Those with the bombs will have had days to move them to different locations,weapons caches dug up and re-buried elsewhere......VBIED's driven out of the city into rural hides........................just fcuking perfect!!!!

You sure seem to be an optimistic guy recently Argyll. ;) As bad as the situation is I think you can find at least some positive things in it.

[Argyll]

And cynical too!!

I've been here almost 18 months and have seen some changes,some great,some not so great,it's nothing like the media portrays it and that goes for the Good and bad.

Every time some Big wig announces the Insurgency is broken,it backfires and the insurgent pull of some major success's.......these guys number about 20 thousand,they ain't gonna be defeated that easily.

I've seen 2 clean ups in Ramadi,Baquaba,Mosul,and Fallujah,and still the insurgent creep back a few weeks later

This Op type has been ongoing for months, the Military claim success,and the insurgents hit back,by hitting softer targets.....they're not stupid,they're actually getting smarter!! :(

[Seiyuuki]

And cynical too!!

I've been here almost 18 months and have seen some changes,some great,some not so great,it's nothing like the media portrays it and that goes for the Good and bad.

Every time some Big wig announces the Insurgency is broken,it backfires and the insurgent pull of some major success's.......these guys number about 20 thousand,they ain't gonna be defeated that easily.

I've seen 2 clean ups in Ramadi,Baquaba,Mosul,and Fallujah,and still the insurgent creep back a few weeks later

This Op type has been ongoing for months, the Military claim success,and the insurgents hit back,by hitting softer targets.....they're not stupid,they're actually getting smarter!! :(

What's your observation on the Iraqi military forces? I know one of the mistake the U.S. made in earlier offensives was that they left the city once it was done, so the insurgents just move back in. Seeing that this one will involve a large number of Iraqi militar forces and assuming they stay in the city after the offensive, wouldn't that at least mitigate some threats.