U.S. Prepares a Prolonged Drive to Suppress the Uprisings in Iraq

[G_j]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/11/international/middleeast/11STRA.html?th=&pagewanted=print&position=

April 11, 2004
U.S. Prepares a Prolonged Drive to Suppress the Uprisings in Iraq
By THOM SHANKER

ASHINGTON, April 10 — American commanders are preparing for a prolonged campaign to quell the twin uprisings in Iraq, issuing orders to attack any members of a rebellious Shiite militia in southern cities relentlessly while moving methodically to squeeze Sunni fighters west of Baghdad until they lay down their arms.

Officials in Baghdad and at the Pentagon said the military was prepared, if no peaceful solution materializes, to use two distinct sets of tactics to counter what they viewed as two different insurgencies — both of them dangerous and complex situations on difficult urban battlefields.

One campaign would entail retaking cities around Baghdad, if necessary block by block against an entrenched Sunni foe. The other would involve a series of short, sharp, local strikes at small, elusive bands of Shiite militia in southern cities, continuing until the militia was wiped out. Even as commanders offered a cease-fire to Sunnis in Falluja, allowing Iraqis to try to find a peaceful solution, and postponed any assault on Shiites in Najaf and elsewhere during religious holidays, they prepared for campaigns against foes who showed unexpected discipline and ferocity this week.

"We are on a war footing," said a senior military officer in Baghdad.

President Bush, in his weekly radio address, made clear on Saturday that the battle could last for weeks, after a week in which fighting in Iraq took the lives of 46 American soldiers, several allied soldiers and hundreds of Iraqis. "This week in Iraq, our coalition forces have faced challenges, and taken the fight to the enemy," the president said, without mentioning the exceptionally high rate of casualties. "And our offensive will continue in the weeks ahead."

..more..

[ClintonTyree]

1. Two words.............

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

[Racenut20]

2. I seem to recall from somewhere

Using both these tatics on the NVA.

[NNN0LHI]

3. This is really like watching a train wreck in slow motion n/t

[FreakinDJ]

4. the 8 second cowboy

<<<"This week in Iraq, our coalition forces have faced challenges, and taken the fight to the enemy," the president said,>>>>

No they took the fight to us you idiot

You got to admit this guy can stick to a spin and ride it for all it's worth