U.S. Embassy Bans Use of Airport Road (will use Helos)

[leftchick]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29731-2004Dec2.html

~snip~

The move, which followed similar action by the British this week, reflected the growing difficulty that U.S. forces are having ensuring safe passage along the high-profile route. Precisely because of the road's importance, insurgents have shown increasing boldness and ferocity in targeting vehicles used by U.S. military personnel and civilian contractors.


A large armored bus, nicknamed the Rhino, had been carrying passengers to and from the airport. But it stopped operating last week after being struck by a car bomb. No one on the bus was injured, but its engine was damaged.

An embassy spokesman said Thursday that U.S. personnel who need to travel between the airport and the embassy, which is in the heavily fortified area known as the Green Zone, would be transported by helicopter.

U.S. military commanders here acknowledged frustration at having been unable to secure the highway, but they said it was not for lack of effort. U.S. forces have tried a number of security measures over the past year, only to see insurgents adjust their tactics and pose fresh threats to traffic.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. and we think we can subdue a country?

The use of helicopters reminds me of the fall of Saigon....

[peacebird]

3. we're not "subduing" them, we're freeing them...

mostly straight to Allah. got to use the correct phraseology. up is down. war is peace. death is freedom.
sigh....

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. I don't think I want to be around

when all those so "liberated" gather 'round when W comes to his day of judgement. May God be Merciful and Compassionate on those who have died so tragically.

[UpInArms]

2. We can't even secure a 2 mile stretch of road

and they think we can control an entire country?

:wow:

[leftchick]

4. it is 10 miles....

~snip~
BAGHDAD, Dec. 2 -- Citing security concerns, the U.S. Embassy on Thursday banned its employees from using the highway linking the embassy area to the international airport, a 10-mile stretch of road plagued by frequent suicide car-bomb attacks.

... but still pretty pathetic for 'the world's superpower'! :eyes:

[UpInArms]

10. thanks leftchick - for making the road longer

:D

ten miles can seem forever at times - it's 7 1/2 miles for me to the nearest town and it would be pretty hard to "secure" it, too.

That doesn't change my sentiment about our military abilities - if they can't secure a "road", how can they "secure" a country?

[leftchick]

13. I agree totally UIA...

It is a perfect metaphor for the failure that is Iraq.

:hi:

[Pepperbelly]

16. Securing Iraq?

There are 168,869 square miles in Iraq. There are approximately 140,000 American troops on the ground. That means that there is approx 1 soldier for each 1.2 square mile area.

[Divernan]

9. AND it's the most critical 10 mile stretch of road in the entire country.

IMHOP, if an occupying force can't control access between the capitol city and it's prime airport, it hasn't accomplished the most militarily significant objective of an "occupation". Can anyone think of a greater military FAILURE - after the billions of tax dollars spent, the 1200 plus young American soldiers killed; the thousands of US soldiers severely wounded/maimed; the tens of thousands of Iraqi men, women and children killed, maimed, and/or econimically destroyed?

[leftchick]

11. exactly... this is The prime example of " the Iraq Failure" ....

no surprise as bush* has failed at everything his whole life.

[Cooley Hurd]

5. They can't secure one relatively short road?

Why not use Bernie Kerik's Super Iraqi Police Force to do so? Oh yeah, I forgot - it never existed...:eyes:

[Sideways]

14. How Bout We Send Barney's Super Iraqi Police Force

Purple dinosaurs for LordGodPrezMonkeyNut's Colonial Adventure?

[Cooley Hurd]

15. *snarf!*

Heya Mary! :hi:

Both forces exist... in the ether between the Chimp's ears!:D

[Lost4words]

17. Oh yea, kerik, he's good, at licking boots.

what a fucking repuke ass kissing looser. better appointments ahead for Rudy no doubt.

[MidEastMan]

6. Read This ...............................

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2779347&mesg_id=2779347

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. Oh yeah, we're winning this war

against the insergents. And I have a bridge that goes to Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.

[Brundle_Fly]

12. maybe this is more PsyOPs

</ end sarcasm >

[Benhurst]

18. You'd think they could protect that little strip of road like they did

our country on 9/11. Oh, what am I thinking? They are.

[leftchick]

19. busy day!

:kick:

[daleo]

20. It seems like this will be pretty expensive

I suppose they may be getting some of the bulk supplies through local means, but this will still cost. Maybe Halliburton has a helicopter service?