If combat operations are over in Iraq

[Urbanguerrilla]

So I guess they are really not over.

U.S. troops fight on despite end to combat in Iraq

U.S. troops fight on despite end to combat in Iraq | Reuters

"Today, at the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 4,427 American service members have died in Iraq, 3,502 of them killed in action; 34,265 have been wounded or injured," Gates said at the American Legion convention in Milwaukee.


Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Evening Buzz: Combat Mission Over in Iraq - CNN.com Blogs

How many civilians killed/injured?

 

[Urbanguerrilla]

So I guess they are really not over.

U.S. troops fight on despite end to combat in Iraq

U.S. troops fight on despite end to combat in Iraq | Reuters

"Today, at the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 4,427 American service members have died in Iraq, 3,502 of them killed in action; 34,265 have been wounded or injured," Gates said at the American Legion convention in Milwaukee.


Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Evening Buzz: Combat Mission Over in Iraq - CNN.com Blogs

How many civilians killed/injured?

No one cares...

 

[RoccoR]

et al,

The question is not some much based on what the US Government has to say about where we are, it is more about what we will do?

(REMEMBER)

VICTORY IN IRAQ DEFINED

As the central front in the global war on terror, success in Iraq is an essential element in the long war against the ideology that breeds international terrorism. Unlike past wars, however, victory in Iraq will not come in the form of an enemy's surrender, or be signaled by a single particular event -- there will be no Battleship Missouri, no Appomattox. The ultimate victory will be achieved in stages, and we expect:

In the short term:

• An Iraq that is making steady progress in fighting terrorists and neutralizing the insurgency, meeting political milestones; building democratic institutions; standing up robust security forces to gather intelligence, destroy terrorist networks, and maintain security; and tackling key economic reforms to lay the foundation for a sound economy.

In the medium term:

• An Iraq that is in the lead defeating terrorists and insurgents and providing its own security, with a constitutional, elected government in place, providing an inspiring example to reformers in the region, and well on its way to achieving its economic potential.

In the longer term:

• An Iraq that has defeated the terrorists and neutralized the insurgency.
• An Iraq that is peaceful, united, stable, democratic, and secure, where Iraqis have the institutions and resources they need to govern themselves justly and provide security for their country.
• An Iraq that is a partner in the global war on terror and the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, integrated into the international community, an engine for regional economic growth, and proving the fruits of democratic governance to the region.

In watching the news, you will notice that Prime Minister al-Maliki is taking a three-pronged approach in an attempt to secure his unelected control over Iraq. It is now more than 200 days since the electrion.

• He is attempting to secure support from neighboring nations:
  • Syria
  • Iran
  • Possibly Egypt
• He is attempting to secure opposition support:
  • Backing from anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
• He is attempting to secure Regional Support for his leadership.

It will be most interesting to see how the US (politically, diplomatically, and militarily) reacts in the realization that its own creation, Nouri Al Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq, will (most likely) hold onto his leadership by being supported by the Shi'ite Militia Mahdi Army - and the Iranians (Extraterritorial Operatives), who individually established a deadly insurgency directed against the Multi-National Force (MNF-I) and the Government of Iraq (GOI).

The US Governments parameters that set the evaluation are conditions based:

␣ Success in the short, medium, and long run will depend on progress in overcoming these challenges and on the conditions on the ground in Iraq. Our strategy – along the political, security, and economic tracks – is establishing the conditions for victory. These conditions include:

• Progress in the Iraqi political process and the increasing willingness of Iraqis to forge political compromises;
• Consolidation of gains in the training of Iraqi Security Forces (ISF);
• Commitment to and implementation of economic reforms by Iraqi leaders;
• Increased cooperation of Iraq’s neighbors;
• Expanded support from the international community;
• Continued support of the American people.

.

In addition to the definitions of Victory, the possibilities were set out such that we can evaluate each of the three-phases: Short, Medium and Long. There are several questions that must be answered at this point.

• Is the political process working in Iraq? Or, is it already corrupted?
• Will the corrupted process impact the outcome in the reliability of the ISF?
• If the government and the ISF fall under the influence the Iranians, will that impact the definition of Victory?
• Does the increased interaction of Iraq’s neighbors (Syria & Iran) change the outcome?
• Does the reduced commitment of the International Community change the outcome (ie MNF-I to USF-I and the withdrawal)?

• Can we continue to support our creation (Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki)?
• Did we create another monster that will bite the hand that once fed it?

Most Respectfully,
R

 

[Urbanguerrilla]

"Today, at the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 4,427 American service members have died in Iraq, 3,502 of them killed in action; 34,265 have been wounded or injured," Gates said at the American Legion convention in Milwaukee.


Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Evening Buzz: Combat Mission Over in Iraq - CNN.com Blogs

How many civilians killed/injured?

No one cares...

Hey, really, no one gives a shit

 

[RoccoR]

Urbanguerrilla, et al,

I have a question?

How many civilians killed/injured?

No one cares...

Hey, really, no one gives a shit

(THE Q?)

Let's say for a moment, that there are casualties within the civilian population, who's interest is it in to keep a lid on that being amplified in the news media?

(DISCUSSION)

I wonder just who is killing who? Could this be Muslim-on-Muslim --- or --- Arab-on-Arab?

And if it is some variation of Muslim or Arab internal conflict, what would this indicate?

• Could this indicate that the GOI and its ISF are not as successful as we would like after 7 years?
• Could this indicate that the democratization effort isn't quite as successful as we want it to be?

Most Respectfully,
R