Winning or losing in Iraq (optimistic officer vs. pessimistic enlisted)

[Barrett808]

Winning or losing in Iraq
By MARK MOONEY
DAILY NEWS NATIONAL EDITOR

Two U.S. officers involved in the fight for Samarra have come to starkly different conclusions about the battle.

One is encouraged by the Iraqis willing to take charge of their city, while the other is dismayed and afraid that victory may be slipping away.

...

It's true that the once daily attacks on Americans are way down, he said, but he believes it's a calculated tactic by the insurgents to lull the Americans into backing off as the insurgents slip back into the city and infiltrate the police and other government offices.

"It is getting worse even if the American forces haven't been getting hit very much," he wrote. "It's a new face: leave the Americans alone so we'll leave, and kill the competition in town while waiting."

(more)

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/318098p-272095c.html

[hadrons]

1. calculated tactic by the insurgents to lull the Americans into backing of

interesting idea ... I didn't think of that