Comments on: The MSM’s New & Improved Reporting On Iraq http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/03/28/the-msms-new-improved-reporting-on-iraq/ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:57:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: doug http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/03/28/the-msms-new-improved-reporting-on-iraq/#comment-31735 doug Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:28:44 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/03/28/the-msms-new-improved-reporting-on-iraq/#comment-31735 "Although American officials have emphasized that the campaign in the southern port city of Basra is directed by Iraqi forces, the Iraqis have failed so far to wrest control of neighborhoods in Basra from Shiite militias and asked the Americans and British to step in. The Iraqi military does not have jet fighters." --I had heard different. I never said, "it was a failure."  I just expected that when you give an ultimatum, if you can, you follow through with it.  Since Maliki didn't, it illustrates something-- that the Iraqi army stalled,  and then received aid from us and the Brits. But you're right. It will be weeks before this shakes out to be decipherable.   "Although American officials have emphasized that the campaign in the southern port city of Basra is directed by Iraqi forces, the Iraqis have failed so far to wrest control of neighborhoods in Basra from Shiite militias and asked the Americans and British to step in. The Iraqi military does not have jet fighters."

–I had heard different.

I never said, "it was a failure." 

I just expected that when you give an ultimatum, if you can, you follow through with it.  Since Maliki didn’t, it illustrates something– that the Iraqi army stalled,  and then received aid from us and the Brits.

But you’re right. It will be weeks before this shakes out to be decipherable.
 

]]> By: Curt http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/03/28/the-msms-new-improved-reporting-on-iraq/#comment-31713 Curt Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:23:58 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/03/28/the-msms-new-improved-reporting-on-iraq/#comment-31713 They have taken 1/4 of the city of Basra and are also inflicting heavy casualties on the Mahdi army while taking little themselves. To myself, for a army that is still in its infant stage, that is <a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/03/fighting_in_baghdad.php" rel="nofollow">pretty good</a>. <blockquote><p> Fighting in Basrah and Baghdad and throughout much of the South continues as Iraqi security forces and Multinational Forces Iraq press the fight against the Mahdi Army and other Iranian-backed terror groups. The Iraqi Army has moved additional forces to Basrah as the US and Iraqi military have conducted significant engagements in Shia areas of Baghdad. The Mahdi Army has taken significant casualties. The US military has denied the Mahdi Army has taken control of checkpoints in Baghdad.</p>Several hundred Iraqis are reported to have been killed during the fighting since the operation began on March 25. A large majority of them are Mahdi Army fighters, according to the press reports. The US and Iraqi military have killed more than 70 Mahdi Army fighters in Shia neighborhood in Baghdad alone over the past three day </blockquote>Bill also pointed out <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/03/give_war_a_chance.asp" rel="nofollow">past examples</a> that spew from the lefty media in these kind of battles: <blockquote>Keep in mind how the newspapers and television were quick to declare the initial invasion in Iraq a quagmire as a sandstorm slowed the U.S. assault force in southern Iraq for several days. Also remember the media was quick to declare the surge a failure in its opening month in February 2007, despite the fact that sufficient forces would not be in place until June 2007. </blockquote>What is it with you people you demand results in war within 48 hours or so, and if not, its a failure? In war you have to fight an enemy that can also change tactics to adapt from your tactics. So you overcome that and fight on....it takes time. Nothing will be resolved in a few weeks during this fight, let alone 48 hours. They have taken 1/4 of the city of Basra and are also inflicting heavy casualties on the Mahdi army while taking little themselves. To myself, for a army that is still in its infant stage, that is pretty good.

Fighting in Basrah and Baghdad and throughout much of the South continues as Iraqi security forces and Multinational Forces Iraq press the fight against the Mahdi Army and other Iranian-backed terror groups. The Iraqi Army has moved additional forces to Basrah as the US and Iraqi military have conducted significant engagements in Shia areas of Baghdad. The Mahdi Army has taken significant casualties. The US military has denied the Mahdi Army has taken control of checkpoints in Baghdad.

Several hundred Iraqis are reported to have been killed during the fighting since the operation began on March 25. A large majority of them are Mahdi Army fighters, according to the press reports. The US and Iraqi military have killed more than 70 Mahdi Army fighters in Shia neighborhood in Baghdad alone over the past three day

Bill also pointed out past examples that spew from the lefty media in these kind of battles:

Keep in mind how the newspapers and television were quick to declare the initial invasion in Iraq a quagmire as a sandstorm slowed the U.S. assault force in southern Iraq for several days. Also remember the media was quick to declare the surge a failure in its opening month in February 2007, despite the fact that sufficient forces would not be in place until June 2007.

What is it with you people you demand results in war within 48 hours or so, and if not, its a failure? In war you have to fight an enemy that can also change tactics to adapt from your tactics. So you overcome that and fight on….it takes time.

Nothing will be resolved in a few weeks during this fight, let alone 48 hours.

]]> By: doug http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/03/28/the-msms-new-improved-reporting-on-iraq/#comment-31710 doug Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:12:07 +0000 http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/03/28/the-msms-new-improved-reporting-on-iraq/#comment-31710 "Sounds to me like the Iraqi army is performing well. Not excellent, but a damn sight better then most thought they would while the gangs have no where to go except to meet those 72 virgins." Do you really think so? The Iraqi Army has stalled; they have taken no ground in either Baghdad or Basra. Americans have now taken the lead in air and ground in Baghdad and in the air in Basra. That's a political defeat for Maliki if we are looking at a 3 day ultimatum. To make the matter more politically prickly, if Maliki's ultimatum is three days, where's the beef, why isn't Maliki acting on his demand? "Sounds to me like the Iraqi army is performing well. Not excellent, but a damn sight better then most thought they would while the gangs have no where to go except to meet those 72 virgins."

Do you really think so?

The Iraqi Army has stalled; they have taken no ground in either Baghdad or Basra. Americans have now taken the lead in air and ground in Baghdad and in the air in Basra. That’s a political defeat for Maliki if we are looking at a 3 day ultimatum.

To make the matter more politically prickly, if Maliki’s ultimatum is three days, where’s the beef, why isn’t Maliki acting on his demand?

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