If Iraq isn't the biggest cluster fuck ever,

[JohnyCanuck]

it has to be up right up there among the top 3.

Just read the interiew by Canadian war reporter (and Canadian army and UN Peackeeping veteran) Scott Taylor describing his recent experience as a captive in Iraq and what he learnt of an increaingly well organized and equipped resistance movement during his time as a prisoner of the resistance movement.


Kidnapped by Ansar Al-Islam: How Scott Taylor Survived and Was Saved in Iraq
by Christopher Deliso


ST:I learned that the Iraqi police on the checkpoints were contributing part of their salary to the resistance's local leader, the emir. After all, they're whacking the crap out of these police recruits all over the place throughout Iraq, so it's partially protection money.

One guy was laughing at me and saying how ironic it is that the Americans are being attacked with RPGs purchased with their own money. Sad to say, the U.S. taxpayer is actually funding the Iraqi resistance. By paying these cops' salaries, U.S. taxpayers are actually helping to buy the weapons that are killing American soldiers every day.

<snip>

CD: You really can't fight against that, can you.

ST: Not for an army like the American one, whose soldiers are fighting to live. And the worst thing for the U.S. is that their heavy-handed tactics have radicalized the population, so that local Turkmen guys who previously had no strong religious fervor are now willing to die as martyrs. Unlike what the Pentagon is saying, I saw no foreign fighters there. When we were imprisoned, we were housed by local people, in their own homes. Their mothers and wives were doing the cooking and exhorting their sons to go out and die as martyrs. It's hopeless for the U.S.


www.antiwar.com/deliso/?articleid=3606

[Flammable Materials]

1. I prefer to use a phrase that I heard used about Afghanistan ...

"TOTAL GOAT FUCK."

[moderatepenguin]

2. I am SO stealing that phrase. (n/t)

[Paradise]

3. "U.S. Plans Year-End Drive to Take Iraqi Rebel Areas

U.S. Plans Year-End Drive to Take Iraqi Rebel Areas
By DEXTER FILKINS

Published: September 19, 2004

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 18 - Faced with a growing insurgency and a January deadline for national elections, American commanders in Iraq say they are preparing operations to open up rebel-held areas, especially Falluja, the restive city west of Baghdad now under control of insurgents and Islamist groups.

A senior American commander said the military intended to take back Falluja and other rebel areas by year's end. The commander did not set a date for an offensive but said that much would depend on the availability of Iraqi military and police units, which would be sent to occupy the city once the Americans took it.

The American commander suggested that operations in Falluja could begin as early as November or December, the deadline the Americans have given themselves for restoring Iraqi government control across the country." (Snip.)

"Year-End" = After the November elections!

What we have, here, folks, is politically-strategized *W A R !

*A Bush* Administration value!


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/international/middleeast/19strategy.html?th (Simple registration required.)

[JohnyCanuck]

4. In light of US plans to launch a new offensive to regain control,

it's interesting to read this from the Taylor interview.


CD: Incredible. It can't get worse than that.

ST: I don't know, maybe it can. Consider also that my mujahedin captors told me in advance the exact time the U.S. air strikes would hit them. I said, "How the hell you know?" To which the guy laughed and said, "Don't be stupid, of course we know." They have infiltrated U.S. command even.

www.antiwar.com/deliso/?articleid=3606

[Paradise]

5. interesting interview. thanks. n/t