In western Iraq, insurgency is gaining

[Barrett808]

In western Iraq, insurgency is gaining
By ANTONIO CASTANEDA, Associated Press Writer

HADITHA, Iraq - In the dusty plains of western Iraq, al-Qaida is gaining strength. Daily attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces are on the rise, and there is little sign of progress in persuading the population to support the national government. U.S. commanders acknowledge they are locked in struggle with insurgents for the allegiance of Iraq's youth.

"We're in a recruiting war with the insurgency," said Brig. Gen. Robert Neller, the deputy Marine commander in western Iraq.

U.S. commanders have said privately that a military solution to the insurgency in Anbar is impossible, and what's needed is a political deal between the Sunni Arabs and the other religious and ethnic communities.

"This country needs a political solution — not a military solution," one government worker told Marines who stopped by his home in Haditha. "Are we going to stay in this situation where you shoot them, they shoot you? We are the victims."

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060816/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_ailing_anbar_lh1

[leftchick]

1. "al-Qaida in Iraq"

yeah whatever. :eyes:

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. Absolutely ZERO to do with al Qaeda

These journalists truly have no shame.

It is very obviously a local insurgency, spawned by local issues. It is, of course, obvious why they feel the need to call these people "al Qaeda," but it is as senseless as can be.

[madame defarge]

3. "Adapting to win" is working real well, I see...

:mad:

[0007]

4. Time to move the troops again, 'eh?

Whack mole move

[Halliburton]

5. yeah I bet it's al qaeda

:eyes:

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. Antonio Castaneda is embedded with the U.S. Marines, - doh, really?

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.
.

So we know how much to trust his "reporting"

" Antonio Castaneda is embedded with the U.S. Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Regiment. "

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Aug10/0,4670,INTIraqWeblog,00.html


'nuff said

[saigon68]

7. Its more Faux CHEERLEADING for the AWOL Chimpanzee

[Barrett808]

9. My impression of Castaneda's reporting is pretty good, actually

I think he's turned in a number of good stories from Iraq.

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. Al-Qaeda / insurgents . . . 9/11/Saddam - same brainwashing style

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THAT's my big beef on that story

[LynnTheDem]

8. "a military solution...is impossible"...

Well DUHHHHH.

[maxsolomon]

11. the IDEA of al qaeda is gaining ADMIRERS

when you shame & oppress you cause what you fear.

go read Dune. it doesn't turn out well for the Empire.

my distaste for nasrallah grows at the same rate as my distaste for little boots.

[ripple]

12. It's not an insurgency, it's a civil war

With most of the fighters homegrown.

[Roy]

13. Quick!!! Call the Swiftboaters.....

These U.S. commanders and Iraqi government workers are agreeing with Reprentative Murtha. They should be smeared immediatley!!!!
EAGLES UP!!!!


"U.S. commanders have said privately that a military solution to the insurgency in Anbar is impossible, and what's needed is a political deal between the Sunni Arabs and the other religious and ethnic communities.

"This country needs a political solution — not a military solution," one government worker told Marines who stopped by his home in Haditha. "Are we going to stay in this situation where you shoot them, they shoot you? We are the victims."

[krkaufman]

14. Further evidence that the Iraq War is creating more terrorists

The so-called "al Qaeda in Iraq" referred to in this article is just a label for the Sunni insurgents. There was no "al Qaeda" in Iraq before the Iraq war. al Zarqawi was holed-up up in the Kurdish region of Iraq, under the protection of our no-fly zone, and his group, Ansar al Islam, was not affiliated with al Qaeda.

Just like the alleged terrorists in the UK were British-born.

Bush policies are generating more extremists and unifying them.

[damntexdem]

15. Al Qaida, or Iraqi insurgents?

Not all Sunnis are the same. And far from all Iraqi insurgents are Sunnis, although perhaps they are in Anbar.