U.S. gains in parts of Iraq in jeopardy

[Barrett808]

U.S. gains in parts of Iraq in jeopardy
By ANTONIO CASTANEDA, Associated Press Writer
Mon Oct 9, 2:28 PM ET

BAGHDAD, Iraq - For months, soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade fought in riverside towns of western Iraq, trying to clamp off the flow of foreign fighters and suicide bombers that commanders said were terrorizing Baghdad. Now hundreds of these same U.S. soldiers have been sent to deal with what U.S. officials say is an even greater threat — rising attacks between Sunnis and Shiites in the capital itself.

Left behind in the dusty towns along the Euphrates River in Anbar province are fewer U.S. troops — and fears that hard-won gains could be in jeopardy from a Sunni Arab insurgency that is far from defeated.

"Seeing the fruits of your labor lost is frustrating," said Capt. David Ramirez of the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, who was sent to Baghdad from western Iraq.

The shift from Anbar to Baghdad underscores the problems facing the overstretched, 140,000-strong U.S. military force in Iraq.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061009/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_bets_on_baghdad

[grytpype]

1. This is what happens when you have < 1/3 the troops needed.

We needed at least 3 times as many troops in Iraq as Rummy sent in, to have any chance of victory.

It was a military screwup pure and simple.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. As if 172nd Stryker Brigade is going to bring freedom & democracy.

[Hissyspit]

3. "Whack-A-Mole" n/t