U.S. Defends Operations in Western Iraq

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.leadingthecharge.com/stories/news-0055185.html

U.S. Defends Operations in Western Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military defended its operations in western Iraq, insisting it is reducing insurgent attacks despite the deaths of 14 Marines in a huge bombing. Four more U.S. service members were killed in action, the military said Thursday.

U.S. military spokesman Brig. Gen. Donald Alston said American military operations in Anbar province, which includes the area where the Marines died, have succeeded in disrupting insurgent activities.

Alston cited figures showing there were 13 car bombs in Iraq last week — the lowest weekly number since April. "There‘s a clear indication to me that the tempo has decreased."

....

U.S. commanders have warned that although the number of vehicle and roadside bombings are decreasing, they are increasing in potency and sophistication. Bombs on the roads or planted in vehicles account for 70-80 percent of the U.S. deaths in Iraq, command spokesman Lt. Col. Steven Boylan said.

<</SNIP>>

[Teaser]

1. These liars. I can't stand it anymore.

I just can't stand it. Every goddamn month we hear how great it is, how things are getting better. We keep fucking turning corners.

I expect this from the civilians in the * admin, but how can the military brass keep up this pace of lies? It's gotta eat at them deep down to know they are sending their army down the way to dusty death.

[phusion]

2. Didn't they say the same thing about Fallujah?

And now look at the place...Insurgent stronghold yet again.

GRRRR

:mad:

[leftchick]

3. "the insurgency's back is broken"

remember that gem?

:puke:

[daleo]

4. A bunch of places will have to be bombed soon

They will be called "safe houses" or something like that. But the military will strike out at some target, just so it doesn't look helpless. It will only make things worse.

[dArKeR]

5. Echelon 211 Votes, One Star, 2 hours 2 Min ago - statistically impossible

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. WTF would you expect from them, a rational explanation

or some remorse? Nooooooo sir, we get Vietnam era denial and bullshit stories from these loathsome bastards.

[Alpharetta]

7. U.S.: Iraq Operations Reducing Insurgency [military spokesman says]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050805/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

U.S.: Iraq Operations Reducing Insurgency

By TINI TRAN, Associated Press Writer 49 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military defended its operations in western
Iraq, insisting it is reducing insurgent attacks despite the deaths of 14 Marines in a huge bombing and four U.S. service members killed in action, the military said.

...

U.S. military spokesman Brig. Gen. Donald Alston said American military operations in Anbar province, which includes the area where the Marines died, have succeeded in disrupting insurgent activities.

"We still have deaths. We still have suicide car bombs," he said. "But the numbers we see indicate (the insurgents) can't generate the same tempo, and I think that's because we've had some degree of effect in interdicting these forces."

Alston cited figures showing there were 13 car bombs in Iraq last week — the lowest weekly number since April. "There's a clear indication to me that the tempo has decreased."

More idiotspeak at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050805/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[still_one]

8. and the price of gas is actually lower than 1980

with inflation factored in...

wait, I thought there was no inflation

[dbt]

9. I thought Westmoreland was dead!

Perhaps General Alston is channeling him? I know I've heard this bullshit somewhere before, back in the 60s...

[soothsayer]

10. Riiiiight. Baghdad Bob in charge of US PR now? lol

[Disturbed]

11. The more U.S. Troops that are killed &/or maimed..

indicates that the Insurgency is getting more desperate or sumtin' like that. I say "Bring it on." It's in the spirit of the Glorious War Prez, who fought so well in the NG.

[dutchdoctor]

12. "we've had some degree of effect in interdicting these forces"

My my, isn't that a little cautious?
What the hell happened to "we're winning the war on terror", "mission accomplished", "dead-enders", "desperate insurgents" and all that other machospeak?

[0007]

13. More recruitment propaganda?

[bemildred]

14. Sounds a bit defensive, eh? nt

[xchrom]

15. double speak

''and I think that's because we've had some degree of effect in interdicting these forces."

[keopeli]

16. As a Doctor of Musical Arts, I'd like to speak to "tempo"

Tempo is nothing more than a measure of time which is codified by the distance between events. It has nothing to do with other elements of warfare, such as

duration, density, dynamics, development, dissonance, or diminuendo

to name a few. Two very big bombs stopped the war in Japan. One could say that was an incredibly slow tempo, yet extraordinarily effective.

However, I will acquiesce that the "tempo" of enemy attacks appears to have slowed for a period.

I'll also note that, in musical terms, a change in tempo is generally a strong indicator that something significant is about to happen.

I bet you didn't know music experts could also predict the future!

Dr. Jeff

edit: syntax

[Kickin_Donkey]

17. Five O'Clock Follies Redux ...

[leftchick]

18. If he wasn't so hideously WRONG it would be laughable.

now I just want to cry... :(

[pinniped]

19. Ya, but the newZ says the bombs are getting bigger.

NewZ says the one that took out the military vehicle the other day was estimated to weigh 600lbs.

--Alston cited figures showing there were 13 car bombs in Iraq last week — the lowest weekly number since April. "There's a clear indication to me that the tempo has decreased."--

Any chance they're combining small bombs into great big ones?

[Warren Stupidity]

20. reduced like a good sauce

refined, concentrated, strengthened. Totally accurate assessment

[Dhalgren]

21. It is also interesting (and transparent) that the only statistic cited

for the alleged tempo sift of the insurgency is the number of "car bombs". What if in addition to the "13 car bombs" last week there were, oh, 175 IEDs and 140 engagements with small arms and 113 sniper attacks? Separating out a particular kind of attack and using that as an indication of all attacks is transparently disingenuous. How stupid do they think we are? And if they don't think we are that stupid, at whom is this neonews aimed? 5 o'clock follies? You bet...

[DeepModem Mom]

22. NYT: U.S. Contends Campaign Has Cut Suicide Attacks

U.S. Contends Campaign Has Cut Suicide Attacks
By CRAIG S. SMITH
Published: August 5, 2005


BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 4 - A day after losing 15 marines in fighting along the Euphrates River, the American military command here said Thursday that suicide attacks had declined as a result of its three-month campaign to stem the flow of foreign fighters coming down the river valley from Syria.

Brig. Gen. C. Donald Alston, chief spokesman for the American command, said 13 car bombings occurred in Iraq last week, only three of which were suicide bombings, the lowest weekly figures since the current counterinsurgency campaign in western Anbar Province began. The military regards car bombings, suicide bombings in particular, as a rough measure of foreign fighter activity because it contends that most of the suicide bombers are foreign militants.

"When I look at the bar charts, the statistics are a clear indication that the tempo of suicide attacks has decreased," General Alston said, noting that the percentage of car bombings involving suicide bombers was as high as 60 percent a few months ago. He expressed optimism that the flow of foreign fighters was ebbing. "This is not an expanding insurgency," he said....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/international/05iraq.html

[shoelace414]

23. they are looking at percent of bombings that are suicide attacks?