U.S. launches largest air attack in Iraq since 03

[Balta1701]

CNN

 

More than 50 aircraft and 200 tactical ground vehicles are involved in Operation Swarmer, supporting more than 1,500 Iraqi and U.S. troops in Salaheddin province. Commandos raided several structures in the area, a news release said.

 

The offensive is focusing on three villages where fighters are believed to be based, Iraqi security sources said.

 

The insurgents are suspected in lootings and killings, including the deaths of the three Al-Arabiya journalists in Samarra.

 

The reporters were killed while covering the aftermath of the February 22 bombing of a revered Shiite shrine in Samarra that escalated sectarian tensions and pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war.

The U.S. has reportedly been considering for some time stepping up air strikes as a method of compensating for some of the shortcomings of the Iraqi troops as the U.S. tries to pull back its forces before the election.

 

The problem of course is that bombing is basically the most risky method of trying to pacify a population if your goal is to avoid simply destroying a country. Why? Because it's just to indiscriminate, not matter how accurate your bombs are. Every so often, you hit a building with a dozen or two dozen civilians in it, you leave rubble everywhere, and you give even more people reason to fight.

 

Given the Catch-22 we've put ourselves in, well, I guess all we can do is hope that this assault on Samarra will be more successful than the last major offensive in Samarra, and hope that this doesn't cost too many more lives.

[FlaSoxxJim]

I guess this is the exclaimation point on today's official reaffirmation on the Bush Doctrine of preemption, to kind of get Iran's attention.

 

After all, Condi says they're "the central banker of terrorism." Makes one wonder what we've been doing the last three years, huh?

[samclemens]

Makes one wonder what we've been doing the last three years, huh?

 

fighting to get the UN to get their dicks out of thier asses. no, wait, you are both right. the UN and its rampant and blatent corruption has absolutely nothing to do with the difficulties in confronting iran. its entirely bush's fault. just like every other foreign policy problem in contemporary society.

 

it makes me wonder what kind of message that walking labia jimmy carter sent to iran way back when. that most certainly has a direct correlation to whats happening in iran today. the frickin iranian prez is one of the bastards that stormed our embassy, and carter allowed him to walk because carter negotiated like a b****. now hes the god damn president of iran and hes also our number one problem. thanks, jimmy!

Edited March 17, 2006 by samclemens

[Flash Tizzle]

it makes me wonder what kind of message that walking labia jimmy carter sent to iran way back when. that most certainly has a direct correlation to whats happening in iran today. the frickin iranian prez is one of the bastards that stormed our embassy, and carter allowed him to walk because carter negotiated like a b****. now hes the god damn president of iran and hes also our number one problem. thanks, jimmy!

It hasn't exactly been proven he aided the embassy seige. Although in 1979 the current Iranian President was associated with a student organization which participated in the event. I recall reading an article where it was looked into by our government, and proven false. Former hostages swear to this day he was involved.

 

Personally, I believe it's only logical to assume if there existed proof of Ahmadinejad's involvement the US would jump all over it.

[YASNY]

It hasn't exactly been proven he aided the embassy seige. Although in 1979 the current Iranian President was associated with a student organization which participated in the event. I recall reading an article where it was looked into by our government, and  proven false. Former hostages swear to this day he was involved.

 

Personally, I believe it's only logical to assume if there existed proof of Ahmadinejad's involvement the US would jump all over it.

 

Mr. Former Hostage, whom are you going to believe, The US Government or your own lying eyes?

[Flash Tizzle]

Mr. Former Hostage, whom are you going to believe, The US Government or your own lying eyes?

Over fifteen Iranian men with long beards and similar dark features are going to look alike.

[WCSox]

fighting to get the UN to get their dicks out of thier asses. no, wait, you are both right. the UN and its rampant and blatent corruption has absolutely nothing to do with the difficulties in confronting iran. its entirely bush's fault. just like every other foreign policy problem in contemporary society.

 

While choosing to force a regime change in Iraq rather than Iran appears questionable (especially with 50/50 hindsight), the UN needs to shoulder some of the burden with regard to policing Iran. If they don't, they'll lose legitimacy and the support of our government.

[Balta1701]

Hmmm...did every major media outlet in the U.S. get fooled by this?

 

The press, flown in from Baghdad to this agricultural gridiron northeast of Samarra, huddled around the Iraqi officials and U.S. Army commanders who explained that the "largest air assault since 2003" in Iraq using over 50 helicopters to put 1500 Iraqi and U.S. troops on the ground had netted 48 suspected insurgents, 17 of which had already been cleared and released. The area, explained the officials, has long been suspected of being used as a base for insurgents operating in and around Samarra, the city north of Baghdad where the bombing of a sacred shrine recently sparked a wave of sectarian violence.

 

But contrary to what many many television networks erroneously reported, the operation was by no means the largest use of airpower since the start of the war. ("Air Assault" is a military term that refers specifically to transporting troops into an area.) In fact, there were no airstrikes and no leading insurgents were nabbed in an operation that some skeptical military analysts described as little more than a photo op. What’s more, there were no shots fired at all and the units had met no resistance, said the U.S. and Iraqi commanders....

 

Before loading up into the helicopters for a return trip to Baghdad, Iraqi and American soldiers and some reporters helped themselves to the woman’s freshly baked bread, tearing bits off and chewing it as they wandered among the cows. For most of them, it was the only thing worthwhile they’d found all day.