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| Iraq-Jordan |
| IRAQ: The Secret Offensive |
| 2004-10-13 |
| October 13, 2004: Although the details are secret, American and Iraqi troops are on the offensive against Sunni Arab and terrorist gangs. Over a year of effort in building up an intelligence network among the population had paid off. Even in the Sunni Arab areas, many people are fed up with the lawlessness and violence created where the gangs operate. So information comes in about who is who and is doing what. This provides more, and higher quality, targets for raids. The ground units usually surround houses or compounds at night and arrest people, and seize weapons, bomb making equipment and documents, without a shot being fired. Some 30 areas have been identified as occupied and influenced by various gangs. The process of clearing out these areas have apparently been underway for two weeks. Not a lot of publicity for this effort, as keeping the opposition guessing is a powerful weapon. |
| Posted by:Mrs. Davis |
| #9 The PR strategy is that there is not much you can do when the MSM is in the tank with the enemy. But Bush did show last night that if he wins the election, he may be willing to take the MSM on. He definitely assaulted their credibility. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-14 8:02:53 AM |
| #8 Sorry, Spook, impatience gets the better of me sometimes. I do worry that there are potentially only 20 or so shopping days left for this latest offensive. Certainly the MSM will do their best to bury any news of progress or achievements. So my q to you is, What's your PR strategy? Crucial element of the battle, methinks, given the urgency here. |
| Posted by: lex 2004-10-13 11:53:46 PM |
| #7 Lex, this is the way to do it - quietly, constantly. Strikes fear into them. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-10-13 11:39:52 PM |
| #6 Two of the biggest things at work there we are not hearing in the news. 1)the vast majority of ordinary Iraqis are feed up of getting hit by these clowns and the way they are controlling areas, 2)the Iraqi army and cops are starting to really get their act together. The kind of pressure we are putting on the local sheiks with the local discontent is paying off intel wise. Also a little known fact is that one of the best Iraqi units happens to have a whole bunch of Persh Merga in it so when they show up locally the bad guys figure out real quick these guys are really good and they are carrying around a huge cultural chip on their shoulders. Adds new meaning to no quarter. Once Iraq and the prime minister get on its feet early next year I think you will see Iran start to get real shakey. There is alot of discontent and the circle will have closed. Take a quick look at a map and you will notice that their neighbors are pretty chummy with us. Radio Free Iran and a little money in the right pockets and the mullahs will start to cut deals. |
| Posted by: TopMac 2004-10-13 9:48:31 PM |
| #5 RWV, I suspect you are correct. Wretchard had a post about the use of network analysis software that we were using to figure out who should be a target. The pickups are all early morning so quick, shots aren't fired. As a result this will not conclude, it will just sputter out as the stooges from Iran and Syria are picked up faster and faster. Some day the last stooge will be sent in and it will die with a wimper. Or regime change in Tehran and Damascus. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-13 8:06:59 PM |
| #4 Ratchet it up. Bring this to a conclusion. Gloves off. |
| Posted by: lex 2004-10-13 2:51:27 PM |
| #3 It must be disquieting to the various jihadi groups to see other groups just quietly disappear from the net. It builds a sense inexorably approaching doom. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-10-13 1:23:41 PM |
| #2 There was a piece in yesterday's National Review Online talking about the increased use of Iraqi SWAT/Spec Ops troops in combination with the Marines 24th MEU south of Bagdhad. Seems like both the Iraqis and the Marines are doing a great job. |
| Posted by: remote man 2004-10-13 1:03:24 PM |
| #1 In the next two days watch the News in Iraq |
| Posted by: Glomosing Choque5991 2004-10-13 11:48:32 AM |