Can you say Tet ?

[sabra]

http://www.normantranscript.com/feeds/apcontent/apstories/apstorysection/D8C6C3U84.xml.txt/resources_apstoryview

Insurgent Attacks Leave 13 Dead in Iraq

The Associated Press


BAGHDAD, Iraq —

Dozens of insurgents wearing black uniforms and masks launched their boldest assault in Baghdad in weeks, attacking police Wednesday with multiple car bombs and small arms fire. Up to 13 people died as Iraqi politicians struggled to end a stalemate over a draft constitution.

....

Up to 43 people were wounded in the brazen daylight attack, which began about 3:15 p.m. with three car bombs _ two of them piloted by suicide drivers _ blasting police patrols in a Sunni neighborhood of western Baghdad, police said.


Following the explosions, dozens of gunmen attacked with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, using what the U.S. military refers to as "swarm tactics" _ an innovation by an insurgent force that U.S. officials acknowledge is becoming a more sophisticated.

[kansasblue]

1. I can but I don't want to. God bless our troop. Let's get them home!

[sabra]

2. sadly impeachment might be one of our only options for this to happen

peace

[ripple]

5. We need to sweep 2006

That's the only chance of impeachment

[unhappycamper]

3. It can't be Tet.

They don't have a Perfume River there. . . :sarcasm:

[BrotherBuzz]

8. No, but I think they found the 'Street Without Joy'

Too bad Bush* never learned anything from Bernard B. Fall's book. Seems like every other officer that served in Vietnam read it....oh, I forgot, Bush* can't read and didn't serve in Vietnam. :shrug:

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. Street Without Joy is an incredible book

As is Fall's "Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu."

The English title loses a bit from the French, Le Rue sans Joie. This is a pun on common French street names (like, for instance, Rue Sant Jacques), and while it does translate directly into Street Without Joy, it loses that pun in the translation. The French used to call Highway 1 in Vietnam Le Rue sans Joie, because they were always being ambushed by Viet Minh on that road (I suppose in much the same way that troops in Iraq call various stretches of road IED Alley).

[ripple]

4. There were around 40 gunmen involved

According to NPR. And yet only 2 were apprehended and one was killed. The situation seems to be under control, all right. :eyes:


FYI- C-SPAN3 is having speeches and forums all day about Vietnam. The parallels to Iraq simply can't be ignored.

[leftchick]

6. when the SAMs start reappearing

it will be Tet.

[txaslftist]

7. Not Tyet.

But it's a coming.

[DemoTex]

9. Sy Hersh predicted this a week or two ago on The Daily Show.

A Tet-like offensive all over Iraq. So they are wearing black, too, for their offensive? Sounds like a little psychological warfare thrown in for good measure.


Hue, post-Tet.

[ripple]

11. I saw that, too

They are definitely getting more sophisticated with their weaponry. Now, they're starting to use detonators, as well.