Bad news day for Dems,liberals and hippies

[lumbingmi]

Al Qaeda on the Run in Iraq, Coalition Spokesman Says
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2007 – Al Qaeda may not yet be defeated in Iraq, but the group’s terrorists are on the run, a senior official in the area said today.
“We’ve taken out a significant part of their leadership. We’ve gone after their foreign fighter facilitation network. We’ve gone after their financial networks. And … we also have gone after very heavily their propaganda network,” said Navy Rear Adm. Gregory J. Smith, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, via telephone to a group of military analysts.

As much as 80 percent of al Qaeda’s media structure has been destroyed, greatly hampering the group’s ability to spread propaganda, recruit and gain financing for its operations, Smith said.

Reports in the country have shown a downward trend in violence against coalition forces, civilians and the Iraqi security forces, Smith said. He added that he remains cautiously optimistic, but he also warned of the lethality that still exists within al Qaeda’s network.

“Those are good trends, and we are seeing some very good numbers. But … obviously we have a lot of work to do, as well,” Smith said. “(Al Qaeda is) still very much a threat.”

For example, Smith cited a suicide bomber on a motorcycle who killed 27 Iraqi policemen in Baqouba, north of Baghdad, on Oct. 29 in one of the worst attacks on Iraq's security forces in months. “Al Qaeda still has a capacity to kill civilians and certainly go after infrastructure,” he said.

Still, Iraqi citizens are continuing to mobilize their local village forces against al Qaeda and other extremist groups, Smith said. So far, nearly 70,000 concerned citizens have formed 120 groups across the country, he said.

“That is making a huge impact on our ability to really understand what’s happening at the local level as our commanders in the field partner with these groups. … We’re discovering more and more of the deep-rooted activity in those areas,” he said.

This has translated into local commanders finding remaining elements of al Qaeda operatives in communities, as well as record numbers of stockpiles of weapons. By next week, coalition forces in 2007 will have found double the number of weapons caches found in 2006, the admiral said.

“That’s … in large part due to the fact that civilians are becoming extremely more confident in working with local security forces and pointing out where things just aren’t right,” Smith said.

Most of the trust comes from the fact that surge forces are able to build confidence by working in the communities. In its fourth month, the surge of additional forces into Baghdad and other areas of Iraq has given commanders the numbers of troops needed to embed them in outposts in the communities, instead of having forces commute to the communities from large forward operating bases.

Coalition forces also are focusing on rogue militias who have splintered from the Jaysh al-Mahdi militia loyal to Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who ordered a cease-fire in August. Smith said the groups continue to operate much like al Qaeda, kidnapping and intimidating local citizens. He said the rogue groups operate under a criminal, mafia-like gang structure.

“We’re reminding really all Iraqis (to) think about what side they ought to be on. The side that Sadr’s asked them to be on, which is a peaceful side, is the right side to be on right now. And if not, we’re going to treat you like a criminal, and we’re going to hunt you down, and we’re going get you. We’re doing that with increasing numbers, as well,” Smith said. “I won’t say there are two fronts out there, but there sure are two main efforts.”

DefenseLink News Article: Al Qaeda on the Run in Iraq, Coalition Spokesman Says

 

[Deafilmedia]

Yay!!!!!

 

[Wokamuka]

Propaganda vs Reality

I don't see how this could be bad news for anybody.

On the flip side, does this article have propaganda value? Considering the source, you bet.

If you think Iraqi quagmire is a problem these days, ya'll need to have your heads examined.

It's not Iraq right now; it's Pakistan! Thought religious fanatics with airplanes and i.e.d.s were a problem before? Try Fundamentalism gone nuclear! I'm sure, they'll say that Al-Qaeda is on the run there, too.

 

[Dennis S.]

It's all a lie.

"80%" of their media network? What media network? And how the heck do they know exactly what percent they've destroyed? If you know 100% of the network, you destroy it all, not "80%." This tells me they're making up numbers as they go along.

A "significant" portion of the leadership taken out? Big deal, they're always being replaced. You can take out 100 of them and 200 more will replace them.

All American "feel good" propoganda. All in the name of "let's keep on doing what we're doing, even though we're really not going anywhere and not fixing the real problem, which is to fix WHY these guys are able to recruit people against America." And guess who's getting all the $$$$$$ from this? It ain't the American people!

Get out of Iraq now!

 

[Deafilmedia]

Nuke Pakistan?

 

[Texan Guy]

It's all a lie.

"80%" of their media network? What media network? And how the heck do they know exactly what percent they've destroyed? If you know 100% of the network, you destroy it all, not "80%." This tells me they're making up numbers as they go along.

A "significant" portion of the leadership taken out? Big deal, they're always being replaced. You can take out 100 of them and 200 more will replace them.

All American "feel good" propoganda. All in the name of "let's keep on doing what we're doing, even though we're really not going anywhere and not fixing the real problem, which is to fix WHY these guys are able to recruit people against America." And guess who's getting all the $$$$$$ from this? It ain't the American people!

Get out of Iraq now!

Boo-hoo....

 

[Deafilmedia]

Pakistan unrest threatens supply lines By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
Wed Nov 14, 7:05 PM ET

Pakistan unrest threatens supply lines - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON - The military is making backup plans in case the unrest in Pakistan begins to affect the flow of supplies to American troops fighting in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Wednesday.



Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the supply lines are "very real areas of concern" because about 75 percent of the supplies, including 40 percent of vehicle fuel supplies, either go through or over Pakistan.

"We hope it doesn't come to this," Morrell told reporters. "Right now we've seen no indications that any of our supply lines have been impacted."

The United States has about 25,000 troops in Afghanistan. Some of their supplies arrive by air from Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan. A former supply line from Uzbekistan was shut down in 2005 when the Uzbek government retaliated against Washington for what it viewed as interference in its internal affairs.

Morrell said the U.S. wanted to ensure there was a backup plan should Pakistan's political turmoil start to affect the supply lines. "Clearly we do not like the situation we find ourselves in right now," he said.

He did not say what potential alternative routes were under consideration and noted that some people have raised questions about safeguarding Pakistan's nuclear weapons.

"I can tell you, at this point, we have no concerns," Morrell said. "We believe that they are under the appropriate control." Later he said Pakistan's nuclear weapons are a general concern but at this stage there is no worry that the weapons are not under sufficient government control.

Last week the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lt. Gen. Carter Ham, offered a different assessment of the level of concern, while not commenting specifically on safeguards.

"Certainly any time there is a nation that has nuclear weapons that is experiencing a situation such as Pakistan is at present, that is of primary concern," Ham told reporters. "However, we'll watch that quite closely, and I think that's probably all I'd say about that at this point."

Morrell, discussing military supply lines in Pakistan, said he did not know how long it would take to switch to alternate routes. But he added, "If we needed to have it done tomorrow, we would have it done tomorrow."

Morrell also said that there is no indication, at this point, that any of the U.S. military funding going to Pakistan is being used to enforce the state of emergency or for any purpose other than what was intended.

He said that in order to be reimbursed for counterterrorism expenses, Pakistan must submit proper documentation proving the funding is warranted.

Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, declared a state of emergency in early November and suspended the country's constitution. In explaining his actions, Musharraf claimed the Supreme Court had meddled in politics and that terrorists posed a serious threat.

Since then the U.S. has urged Musharraf to restore democratic rule, rescind the emergency declaration and hold elections.

On Wednesday, Musharraf said he expects to step down as army chief by the end of November and begin a new presidential term as a civilian. He also warned that Pakistan risked chaos if he gave into opposition demands that he resign.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, now on a four-nation West Africa tour, will go to Pakistan on Friday to underscore U.S. concerns about the situation.

___

On the Net:

Defense Department: U.S. Department of Defense Official Website

State Department: US Department of State - Home Page

 

[pek1]

I don't believe any of the article, as it's all military-related and anyone who knows someone who had been in it would say the same thing. Plus, security reasons, this information wouldn't be released, no matter who said it. It's all propaganda to get more money to our troops over there. Nope, no more money and it's past time to bring them ALL home.

Last one to leave Iraq please turn off the water. Thank you!

 

[Texan Guy]

Don't you have a heart for the Iraqis for those who want to drink the waters, Pek1?

Don't bring them all home. Leave Marines in for the US embassy.

 

[pek1]

Don't you have a heart for the Iraqis for those who want to drink the waters, Pek1?

Don't bring them all home. Leave Marines in for the US embassy.

All the people want to do for all the troops that are there is create problems. End the problems when leaving and turn off the water. End of problem. They can't be terrorists with no water to sustain them.