US, Iraqi forces seal off Baghdad district in crackdown

[Barrett808]

US, Iraqi forces seal off Baghdad district in crackdown
By Ross Colvin

BAGHDAD, Aug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi forces sealed off parts of one of Baghdad's most dangerous districts on Thursday, searching thousands of homes in an effort to regain control of the capital's lawless streets.

The sweep in the southern Dora district, involving 5,000 troops and lasting three days, has had one immediate result, U.S. Colonel Michael Beech said -- the murder rate, which peaked at 20 a day after a surge in sectarian violence, is now zero.

"There is no place safer in Baghdad right now," the commander of the U.S. 4th Brigade Combat team told journalists at an Iraqi police compound in Dora.

The operation is unusual because it combines a crackdown on militants and criminals with a hearts and minds-winning regeneration scheme to provide essential services and clean up the rubbish-strewn streets of the predominantly Sunni district.

(more)

http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=COL045408

[Botany]

1. F*** you General

"There is no place safer in Baghdad right now," the commander of the U.S. 4th Brigade Combat team told journalists at an Iraqi police compound in Dora.

Fine, then I don't won't to here about any casualties in Dora.

[xchrom]

2. lol -- like they won't move back at another time?

:eyes:

[4dsc]

3. Reminds me of Vietman

didn't we use this very same tactic on hamlet in Vietman??

[sofa king]

4. Wait a minute....

Haven't we spent about half a trillion dollars to restore essential services and clean up rubble in Iraq already?

[Barrett808]

5. Even more brutal implementations (Fallujah, Hit) have failed

Why should the same tactics work in the megacity of Baghdad?

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. "crackdown" in other words, we are desperate and don't know what to do.

[Amonester]

7. Any "corners" to turn in the southern Dora district?

Yeah. Right. :sarcasm:

R there any Col's who are less stupid than U.S. Colonel Michael Beech, who obviously seems to think we're all as stupid as he?

What? No corners to turn there?
So the "residents" won't come back for sure this time... :sarcasm:

[wellst0nev0ter]

8. Strategic Hamlets Indeed

When U.S. troops break down doors or smash windows to enter homes in search of illegal weapons, explosives and wanted insurgents, they are followed shortly afterwards by local contractors who repair the locks or replace the windows.

U.S. troops have often been accused of alienating Iraqis with heavy-handed tactics, particularly during house searches.

Oh that's nice, violate people's personal space as violently as possible, then hire cheap contractors to cover your tracks. Jesus God Almighty what a clusterfuck.