U.S. Troops See Gains in Mosul

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050808/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_mosul_tactics_2


<snip>

The U.S. military says there were fewer bombings and mortar attacks in July than any month since October.

A 50-percent drop in attacks in western Mosul over the past eight months is a marked improvement from the days when U.S. troops routinely had to call in airstrikes and repel synchronized attacks.

But that doesn't mean violence has been eradicated. Though attacks in July were noticeably down, western Mosul still endured over 50 shootings and roadside bombings, the U.S military said.

Soldiers say they're close to solidifying gains and making further progress — if the flow of foreign fighters can be blocked so that insurgent ranks are not quickly replaced. U.S. commanders say they've nearly uprooted the top insurgent network that steered the city toward chaos last November.

[still_one]

1. For the last three years this is the same BS they have fed us

after an incident where either their were a lot of bombings or a loss of life

In the end Iraq will become a Shiite stronghold aligned with Iran. 2/3 of the population in Iraq are Shiites. We have put ourselves in the middle of a situation that cannot be won.

That idiots now say that "if the flow of foreign fighters can be blocked", where were they 3 years ago? Didn't that idea come to you then?

Don't believe anything that comes out of this government

[leftchick]

5. it isn't even true

I google Mosul quite often and there are still attacks and deaths. It just doesn't make front page of Yahoo.

[still_one]

10. yup, pravda propaganda

[Teaser]

2. Oh Boy!

Haven't these guys played whack a whole before?

[zanne]

3. Have they ever proven they're "foreign" fighters?

We've been hearing this from day one, but it seems noone has ever proven it. Those in the media never say "so called foreign fighters", either. Where are the facts?

[NNN0LHI]

6. Truth is we are the "foreign fighters" in Iraq n/t

[leftchick]

7. It is the pentagon propaganda

That is part of the justification of calling them terrorists instead of what they are, Iraqis defending their homeland from the real foreign fighters, The USA.

[Divernan]

4. Coulda, shoulda, woulda-Bush as Daddy Warbucks; Rice as Annie

How many times do we have to hear this political version of "The Sun will come out tomorrow. . .tomorrow, it's only a day away."

The Bush controlled Pentagon PR officers are quite expert at deceptive wording of press releases. After all the GOP screaming of President Clinton's answer that "That depends on the meaning of 'is'", they leave him at the starting line when it comes to splitting hairs with their choice of words. Notice how they are always predicting future improvements or future reduction in troop strength, etc.

Their ill-conceived, poorly planned, inadequately manned, unequipped, unarmoured, illegal attack on Iraq continues to spiral downward in every aspect except the blood-soaked, military/industrial profits. Their only response? More bogus rhetoric. (Reprise, Tomorrow, tomorrow. . .)

You can just see the PR staff sitting at their computers, playing games with statistics and desperately looking for at least one town in Iraq where attacks are "down". And, hey, if they can't find one legitimate small area of improvement, they can just cook their figures to create one. What independent source can verify their claims of how many attacks, what kind, when , where? Like
we should believe one embedded reporter who repeats whatever he's fed by the local PR officer?

[xchrom]

8. so does that mean the troops can come home?

no?

mission remains unaccomplished.

[leftchick]

9. US Soldier killed by Sniper in Mosul last Thursday

Just to keep this "happy Iraq" news in perspective...


http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/4820723/detail.html

Soldier Dies Day After 19th Birthday

POSTED: 10:22 pm EDT August 7, 2005
UPDATED: 10:25 pm EDT August 7, 2005

CONFLUENCE, Pa. -- The family of an Army soldier from Confluence said he was killed by a sniper in Mosul, Iraq.

Pfc. Nils G. Thompson was killed Thursday, a day after he turned 19, said his family.

His mother said Thompson was inspired to join the military by uncles and a grandfather who had served in World War II.

He joined the Army last August, as soon as he turned 18 and shortly after he graduated from Turkeyfoot Valley High School. The Army deployed him to Iraq about five months ago.

The Thompson family moved to Confluence in 2000, when Nils Thompson was 13. Before that, the family lived in Staten Island, N.Y.

[Javaman]

11. So I guess bombing a population back to the stone age works...

Well, when you have nothing left to rule, of course things will get better.

I loath that fucking asshole*.