Insurgent Attacks Against Troops Decline

[jenn1977]

Insurgent Attacks Against Troops Decline

Wed Mar 30, 3:49 PM ET

By TRACI CARL, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgent attacks in Iraq have fallen dramatically since the Jan. 30 elections, and the number of U.S. deaths reported this month dropped to the lowest in a year.


But the news isn't all good. Militants are focusing their attacks on Iraqi government and security officials as the new leaders of Iraq assume a greater role in their fragile nation.


Both U.S. and Iraqi officials agree that attacks overall have fallen since the Jan. 30 elections, although it is unclear if the trend is just a temporary lull as militants change tactics, or a sign that the insurgency is weakening.

<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=3&u=/ap/20050330/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_declining_attacks>


Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, which has been tracking the insurgency, said attacks against U.S. forces have dropped by at least 25 percent since last fall, when U.S. officials launched a major offensive against the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah. Attacks then ranged from 80 to 90 a day, O'Hanlon said.

[xchrom]

1. the focus will be civil war

which is where this was headed after saddam was removed.

[smoogatz]

2. Flawed logic

Why are these the only two possible explanations? "it is unclear if the trend is just a temporary lull as militants change tactics, or a sign that the insurgency is weakening." Clearly, the mostly Sunni insurgents have turned their attention elsewhere, and are focusing the attacks on the Iraqi police and military recruits, and Shi'a government officials. US troops are no longer relevant to their view of the conflict.

[NewHampshireDem]

3. Reminds me of a joke ...

City slicker is driving his Beemer through a small town in rural Maine. He blows through a stop sign and the red-and-blues flash on behind him. Guy pulls over and gets out of his car as the officer approaches. "What's the big deal?" slicker asks.

"You failed to stop at the intersection, sir."

"Hey, give me a break. I know I didn't stop, but I slowed down, didn't I?"

At that point the man in blue pulls out his Mag-lite and starts beating down the driver.

After a minute or so of this, he asks, "So, would you like me to stop, or is it alright if I just slow down?"

[merh]

4. How do we know the information he used is legitimate?

Have they been curtailed or are they just not being reported?

4 more journalists are being held hostage -- who the heck knows who captured them.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1354395#1354821

:shrug: Who the hell knows what is going on? These liars haven't been honest from day one, why should we believe their "reports"?

[leftchick]

6. We KNOW it is Not Legitimate because it comes from Centcom and IP

IP (Iraqi Puppets)! The facts on the ground tell a much different
story. Leaf through Yahoo News Photo Iraq Gallery ANY day of the week. You will see at least several attacks and deaths NEVER reported. Only caught in the lense of a cameraperson close by. Iraq is shit. There is not enough lipstick in the world for this pig.

[merh]

7. Why is it that reporters are always being captured and held

hostage? :shrug:

[leftchick]

8. good question. Though very many have been set free...

I assume to get the story from the "other" side out. There are so many examples including the two French journalists set free. I am not at my computer and don't have links handy. The best reporter capture story I read was from the fellow from Canada (Christopher Scott?). Ahhh what a tale he told. When I get back home this weekend I will post his website and story.

[merh]

13. Please do, I would love to read his story.

I don't know what to make of all the captures. Are they by folks that hate the USofA or folks working for or with the USofA?

[Spazito]

19. Here is the report from Scott Taylor re his kidnapping

He is the Canadian war reporter.

Kidnapped by Ansar Al-Islam: How Scott Taylor Survived and Was Saved in Iraq September 18, 2004

Veteran Canadian war reporter Scott Taylor has to be one of the luckiest men alive right now. Although his long experience in war zones in the Balkans and Iraq has been marked by many narrow escapes, last week's kidnapping and torture by one of the world's most notorious Islamic mujahedin groups, in the middle of a pitched battle in lawless Iraq, tops them all.
This interview, conducted by phone on Friday, should be read in conjunction with the narrative Taylor himself has penned describing his imprisonment and release. It builds on the testimony he provides therein – while also including previously unreported vital information regarding the event.

more

http://www.espritdecorps.ca/new_page_244.htm

[merwin]

5. Apparently they consider 40-45 a day a low number... down from 50 a day.

[Tempest]

9. Insurgent attacks against Iraqi troops and police are increasing

The U.S. military said the focus of the insurgent's attacks have changed to the Iraqi troops and police.

[Redleg]

10. That smells like victory!

Yeah, right.

[snippy]

11. A 25% decrease from 80 attacks per day means 60 attacks per day.

Time for another Mission Accomplished costume party.

[hadrons]

12. troopers are less visible since the "elections" ....

since they don't have to make Iraq safe for the vote they are holded up behind more barracades ... just fewer patrols for the resistence to attack

[despairing optimist]

14. Insurgents' tactics shift. Delaying new constitution could push Sistani

over the edge and lead him to endorse active Shiite resistance to US occupation. If that happens, the events of the past two years will fade into oblivion as the real bloodletting begins.

This report is like whistling in the dark.

[Rockerdem]

15. Be prepared for more of these misleading media stories

This is just the first shot across the bow. Rove's boys will be trumpeting March's low number of deaths as a permanent occurence, when all it was is a temporary lull in Sunni activity. The resistance isn't giving up, and if they have anything on the ball, is probably planning something dramatic to make the final push.

In the meantime, watch the drumbeat of positive news for the next few days. Don't let the whores depress you.

[teryang]

16. Why attract undue attention to yourself?

American troop levels are as high as ever. In addition to 150,000 troops, there are the 30,000 mercenaries whose casualties are almost never reported. There is a reasonable prospect of these levels being forced down by manpower realities for the Pentagon soon. Once these kick in, troop levels will come down as they must.

Further pressure will come from not only by the numbers but for domestic political consumption in the US for the next set of elections. When that opportunity presents itself the anti American violence will reemerge in full fury.

In the interim, Americans are content to keep a lower profile and to arm and act through proxies. The resistance is inclined to keep the proxy force from gaining traction.

This conflict will never remain static nor conform to American expectations. The image may conform as our government has virtually eliminated any independent coverage of events in Iraq. It is almost a complete blackout. I really think that this is the source of the silliness in the press lately about the chimps demeanor. He is like the cat that ate the canary. Now that he realizes he has a virtual news blackout going on in the press, he's as carefree as a crackhead.

[leftchick]

17. This is how I find any news from Iraq anymore.....

The Yahoo Iraq photo gallery....There is indeed a blackout. The worst since the start of this debacle.



From today here is a car bomb explosion in Samarra killing two Iraqi Soldiers. They seem to be targeted the most along with those "contractors" getting the big US bucks. At least once a week in the Yahoo Gallery I find a photo of a blown up SUV used by those mercs. Never any story.

The other day when the NYT did the story on that asswipe** being so carefree there had to be 60 photos of him in the Yahoo Iraq gallery.
Sickening... :banghead:

[bemildred]

18. I guess the insurgents are not as "desperate" now or something. nt