Largest Iraq Air Assault Since '03 Begins

[kpete]

Largest Iraq Air Assault Since '03 Begins
U.S., Iraqi Forces Launch Biggest Air Assault Since Invasion;
Insurgents North of Baghdad Targeted

OPERATION "SWARMER"



BAGHDAD, Iraq Mar 16, 2006 (AP)— The United States on Thursday launched what was termed the largest air assault since the U.S.-led invasion, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the military said.

The U.S. military said Iraqi troops also were involved in the operation aimed at clearing a "suspected insurgent operating area northeast of Samarra."

"More than 1,500 Iraqi and Coalition troops, over 200 tactical vehicles, and more than 50 aircraft participated in the operation," the military statement said.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1732727

[redirish28]

1. My wife has been wondering about this. Why now?

Is this some sort of way to raise poll numbers?


Could they be getting things ready to go into Iran?


Could it be something major is happening that they want to divert attention?


Fitzgerald getting indictments on Rove or Chaney or Bush ready?

[movonne]

2. How about their lust for killing...it makes me sick..l can't imagine

what those poor people of Iraq are going through..

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tatertop]

12. I would delete that post

[Neil Lisst]

16. I insist you delete that post or change it.

Are you out of your mind?!

That kind of talk has no place at DU ever.

[joefree1]

4. Wishful thinking by the neo-cons

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail." Insurgents will just fade away and more brave Americans will die for war profiteering. What a tragedy.

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. Iran. nt

[tanyev]

5. I would like for Mr. Rumseld, Mr. Cheney, and Ms. Rice to explain

just exactly why a large air assault is necessary for a few dead-enders who are losing steam and in their last throes.

[Theres-a]

7. Post of the day.

Asolutely.

[Bubba Zanetti]

8. proactive military action....

.... prior to the religious holiday season in Iraq. I believe it is intended to send a 'signal' to iran that we can field a large operation (like the taking of their oil fields) and hold ground in other areas.

[tanyev]

11. But it's just a few dead-enders in their last throes. What in the world

are they worried about?

[nomaco-10]

9. What's the purpose of starting ...

essentially an Iraq/Iran war at this point? Iran won't retaliate here, they can't, but they can sure as hell send an army, planes, tanks and missiles into Iraq. The shia will more than likely support Iran in such a conflict. Is it to incite a civil war and have an excuse to take out Iran? Is it to take the heat off falling poll numbers and fading support for the war in Iraq? Is it to finally let Israel get in on the action, they've been dying to get their finger on the button for years. Let me think about this for a minute.

[WiseButAngrySara]

14. It was done before, by many of the same people, but the roles of Iraq and

Iran keep changing places!

[tatertop]

18. I think Iran will wait until we draw first blood

They are letting us wear our military into the ground.
Meanwhile, they have extra time to pimp their retaliation.
Wouldn't surprise me if Russia and maybe China is assisting them even as we speak. China has their eye on world domination
and they know Bush can not afford to accuse them of anything
so sinister, even if it's true.

[nomaco-10]

20. Thinking out loud.....

shitforbrains* said about a week ago that Iran was supplying IED's to Iraq. Scumsfeld gave a soft denial as to whether it was true or not. "one cannot put the string around or prove with a certain degree of certainty ..." something scumsfeldian like that. So, this has been in the plans for quite sometime. It has already been established that Iran won't have military nuclear capabilities for several years, why now?
Still brainstorming this latest move towards imperialism. god help us ll.

[Don Claybrook]

10. I don't believe that insurgents typically clump together

I think they keep their distance from one another so as to keep from being bombed en masse.

Unfortunately, children and families do tend to aggregate, and as sure as I'm typing this, we'll kill some more innocents in this misbegotten operation.

[pocket]

15. "air assault" is not bombing

it is a helicopter-bourne infantry operation.

standard army term.

[Don Claybrook]

21. Thanks

I didn't know that; should've picked it up from the context.

Still, I'd bet good money that the insurgency is long gone from this area and we'll end up killing innocents again in order to look as if we're in control.

[KharmaTrain]

13. Sending Messages

Remember, this is the 3rd anniversary of the invasion...the one this regime claimed would be met by happy Iraqis and change 1300 years of Arabic and Middle East history in a few days. Some of these asshats still are trying to believe that, and sadly are in charge of the military. They claim this is the "last pocket of major resistance" or how the clearing of these areas will result in a more peaceful country. Of course we know, and documented by Knight-Ridder, that these assualts do more to drive more Iraqis to join or support the insurgency. How would you feel if this happened in an American city. Would you believe some foreign despot telling you that blowing up your town and killing your family and neighbors is what's really best for you. What a crock of shit.

The military itself is starting to question this mission openly. More and more articles have been surfacing in Stars and Stripes and polls are showing the war's unpopularity by those who fight it. What better way to stop these guys from bitching than to stick guns in their hands and tell them to "get back to work". This takes the focus off the poor planning and lack of a winning plan in this misadventure.

[WiseButAngrySara]

17. A "crock of shit" says it all. Ruthless B-tards. n/t

[Jersey Devil]

19. It is the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge redux - only this time

we are the Nazis.

A last gasp before total capitulation. Total desperation.

What scares me most is that these lunatics may start another war with Iran before November in order to hold onto power. I believe that threat is real. Notice that Bush is now once again reiterating his stance that pre-emptive war is legal under international law while out on the stump in his pro war offensive.