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2008-03-27 Iraq

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Posted by Glenmore 2008-03-27 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top
File under: Mahdi Army

#1 much as some folk crave burnt mosques, I suspect the tactic here will be to starve/thirst the buggers out, while containing them with an economy of force (since the main thrust is, afterall, in Basra)

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-03-27 09:00|| 2008-03-27 09:00|| Front Page Top

#2 Well, maybe not blow it up. However, filled with tear gas would be perfectly acceptable.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-03-27 09:07|| 2008-03-27 09:07|| Front Page Top

#3 the Hillah Guerillas? It is to laugh.

Posted by Seafarious 2008-03-27 10:50|| 2008-03-27 10:50|| Front Page Top

#4 Thanks, Sea. It's nice to be appreciated. Just think how the NYT circulation would improve if they hired me as a headline writer. Or, for that matter, if they printed stories like this.
(aka Glenmore, on home computer)

Posted by Menhadden Snogum6713 2008-03-27 11:34|| 2008-03-27 11:34|| Front Page Top

#5 Surround it with snipers and whack anything that shows so much as an eyeball.

Posted by Chief Running Gag">Chief Running Gag 2008-03-27 13:03|| 2008-03-27 13:03|| Front Page Top

#6 LH, your first phrase taints the rest of your comment. Who are the "some folks" you mention? Your implication is that the comment is aimed at the community at Rantburg.

Most disingenuous of you; you calculate wrongly. Sly phrasing does not serve to hide your intent.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2008-03-27 13:15|| 2008-03-27 13:15|| Front Page Top

#7 Whiskey Mike: I for one, would be exceedingly happy is any mosque that was used as an ammo dump, sniper den, or any other use that endangers our troops or our allies be rendered into a pile of Kingsford. For those that retained their original peaceful use ( typed with a straight face) they may exist in peace. otherwise pieces.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2008-03-27 13:41|| 2008-03-27 13:41|| Front Page Top

#8 is=>if.(PIMF, dammit)

Posted by USN, Ret. 2008-03-27 13:42|| 2008-03-27 13:42|| Front Page Top

#9 wm,

over the years ive heard folks here (not all, maybe not the majority, but definitely more than one or two) salivate at the prospect of blowing up mosques.

I aint against doing so if its militarily necessary, but IMO it certainly makes sense to try to avoid doing so if possible for the sake of hearts and minds. Given this is probably a shiite mosque, and the govt is in a hearts and minds battle with the Sadrists for the Shiite population, Id say avoiding destroying the mosque is a good idea, if the operational objective can be achieved without doing so.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-03-27 13:55|| 2008-03-27 13:55|| Front Page Top

#10 I think some reality needs to be applied here.

"Would the Islamics destroy a Christian Church if armed people used it as a base?

Answer "HELL YES THEY WOULD".

Quandary solved, To quote the Bible, "Go thou and do likewise".

Posted by Redneck Jim">Redneck Jim 2008-03-27 14:00|| 2008-03-27 14:00|| Front Page Top

#11 This was a battle chosen by the militants. The IA and police, according to the article, must have just embarrassed the bad guys and the militants went to the mosque for sanctuary. It is an excellent opportunity to surround the building. Send in the imam and ask them to surrender - have them march out one by one unarmed in their underwear and make a big show arresting them for further embarrassment and to show their cowardness.

Now, if they fort up and refuse to leave they made the choice to desicrate the mosque and force military action which showcases their callousness concerning the locals. Either way it would be a big PR win for the IA and police, "You cause trouble in Hillah, we send you to Hell-a."

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-03-27 14:13|| 2008-03-27 14:13|| Front Page Top

#12 The MNF-I reprts that the folks in the mosque were detained for questioning. By the Iraqis.

The thumbscrews pic would be appropriate, I suspect.

Posted by Chuck Simmins">Chuck Simmins 2008-03-27 15:25|| http://northshorejournal.org]">[http://northshorejournal.org] 2008-03-27 15:25|| Front Page Top

#13 Starving them out, as liberalhawk suggests, isn't nearly as nice as shooting them while they posture at heroically defending the mosque they took hostage. Whiskey Mike, liberalhawk rather politely, in my opinion, disagreed with one of the standard positions taken here at Rantburg since Afghanistan was invaded in 2002... and gave his reasons. Calm down my dear, and remember the hawk part of his nym.

I like your thinking, swksvolFF.

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2008-03-27 16:04|| 2008-03-27 16:04|| Front Page Top

#14 Who are the "some folks" you mention? Your implication is that the comment is aimed at the community at Rantburg.

Some folks? Likely the same people I tend to disparage. The shoot-from-the-lip-I-don't-know-the-battleground-from-my-ass-but-wrap-'em-in-pigskin-and-drop-'em-from-5000-feet-then-nuke-'em-anyway armchair strategists.

Oh, and those who seem to not really know who the other commenters are...

Posted by Pappy 2008-03-27 17:15|| 2008-03-27 17:15|| Front Page Top

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