U.S. Conceding Rebels Control Regions of Iraq

[cal04]

As American military deaths in Iraq operations surpassed the 1,000 mark, top Pentagon officials said Tuesday that insurgents controlled important parts of central Iraq and that it was unclear when American and Iraqi forces would be able to secure those areas.
As of late Tuesday night, the Pentagon's accounting showed that 998 service members and three Defense Department civilians had been killed in Iraq operations.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a news conference that the American strategy in retaking rebel-held strongholds hinged on training and equipping Iraqi forces to take the lead. Mr. Rumsfeld said Iraqi officials understood they must regain control of the insurgent safe havens. "They get it, and will find a way over time to deal with it,'' he said.

But General Myers said the Iraqi forces would probably not be ready to confront insurgents in those areas until the end of this year.
Their comments, which came after a two-day spike in violence in Iraq led to a surge in American military deaths, represented an acknowledgment that the Americans had failed to end the insurgency in important Sunni-dominated areas and in certain Shiite enclaves. Fighting raged on Tuesday in Sadr City, in Baghdad, as Shiite militiamen loyal to Moktada al-Sadr ended a self-declared cease-fire. The officials' assessment also underscored the difficulty of pacifying Iraq in time for elections scheduled for January. The cities of greatest rebel control are Ramadi, Falluja, Baquba and Samarra, in the so-called Sunni triangle, west and north of Baghdad, where Saddam Hussein remains popular and many forces loyal to him have gathered strength.

There is increasing concern in the administration over plans for the election, with some officials saying that if significant parts of the Sunni areas cannot be secured by January, it may be impossible to hold a nationwide balloting that would be seen as legitimate. Putting off the elections, though, would infuriate Iraq's Shiite majority. The elections are for an assembly that is to write a new constitution next year.Mr. Rumsfeld said that Prime Minister Ayad Allawi recognized that his government could not continue to allow rebel control in crucial areas of the country, but that it would take time for him to determine how to proceed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/08/politics/08policy.html?hp

[Webster Green]

1. Rebels and insurgents?

How 'bout the invaders, colonialists, imperialists, occupiers?

[auburngrad82]

16. We were rebels and insurgents to the British in 1776

We thought we were Americans. I never thought much of calling Iraqis "rebels and insurgents" in their own country. How about Iraqi citizens instead?

[bluestateguy]

2. Bush will send in another 100,000 troops after the election

Either to screw President-elect Kerry or to prepare the nation for a much more significant and bloody war in Iraq duirng his second term (that would require a draft).

[Jerseygirltoo]

4. From whose army?

We don't have another 100,000 troops to send

[number6]

3. 140,000 troops is not enough to control the country ...

now that Bush has f*cked it so bad

600,000 isn't enough troops now ...eom

[Jacobin]

15. 550,000 troops wasn't enough to "pacify" Vietnam

Iraqis want american invaders out of their country.

It's a no-brainer

[acmavm]

5. I must say that it was thoughtful of them to confirm what everyone knew

anyway.

[rocktivity]

6. Well, what have we here--rationalization for an early withdrawal?

Is THAT the October surprise--the beginning of some of the troops? Did we not leave Viet Nam where it was clear it had become pointless? He could always put them back after we wins the election--and the draft!

:headbang:
rocknation

[crossroads]

7. Bad news on all fronts for shrub tonite... eh?

:eyes: :dem:

[Wapsie B]

8. Well ain't that just peachy!

You can say Cluster**CK boys and girls. Sure you can.

[Nambe]

9. Follow the OIL and it's pipes! Who cares about the rest.

Build a Super Sucking Nuclear Powered Oil Pump and get it over with. Bring our troops home.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. This is lead story on NYT front page -- nt

[JSJ]

11. give iraq back to the iraqis n/t

[stickdog]

12. Mission Accomplished!!!

FUBAR

[Judi Lynn]

13. Yup, what a winner. He's really quite the success, isn't he?

And to think we all doubted his ability to handle the Presidency.



What an imposter.

[Disturbed]

14. "secure those areas"

And here I thought that Iraqis were liberated. Aren't those Iraqis securing their own cities?

This is REALLY PISSIN' me OFF!!!!!!!!!!!

What the Fuck is the matter with the Goddamn Dems in Congress? Are they all on heavy tranqs?

[underpants]

17. See! They told you it would be a "cakewalk"

In all of this bad news about a war they lied their way into and horribly mismanaged something is lost-the burgeoning flower clean up industry in Iraq.