Greyhawk says that we’ve already won. He’s actually in Iraq and would know better than me, but I’m still reserving judgment until we see some evidence of solid, irrefutable political progress.
Still, these stories have been popping up on the CENTCOM wire with so much frequency, I can barely keep up. Maj. Danielson (wax on, wax off?) says that AQI is “losing their grip.” Based on the remarkable military gains we’ve seen since surge elements reached full strength in June, I’d say that’s a pretty accurate statement.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured four wanted individuals and detained an additional 11 suspected terrorists early Wednesday during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a foreign terrorist facilitator and two other suspected terrorists in Tikrit. The wanted suspect is reported to be linked to a primary agent involved in trafficking foreign terrorists and is believed to be an associate of many current and former leaders of the network. Intelligence also links this individual to the movement of weapons, originating from outside of the country, throughout the Tigris River Valley. After the ground force secured the objective, the three were detained without incident.
In Ar Ramadi, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual along with four other suspected terrorists with connections to Syrian-based extremists. Intelligence indicates that the wanted suspect was connected to a senior terrorist named Muthanna, who was killed during operations Sept. 11 near Sinjar, in northwest Iraq. Muthanna was the Emir of the Iraq and Syrian border area and a key facilitator of the movement of foreign terrorists once they crossed into Iraq from Syria. Upon securing the target building, ground forces discovered possible improvised explosive device making material and several Iraqi police uniforms.
In Baqubah, a wanted individual surrendered to Coalition forces without resistance as they quickly secured the target area. The suspect is reported to be a well known al-Qaeda weapons facilitator and terrorist cell leader. He has been linked to several previous Coalition objectives and has ties to several associates within the network. Two other suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.
Another wanted individual was captured during an operation in Mosul targeting associates of a senior terrorist network leader. Intelligence indicates that the targeted suspect is connected to the leader of the northern terrorist group and individuals with access to the senior leadership of al-Qaeda. In addition to the targeted suspect, three other suspected terrorists were detained in the operation without incident.
In Baghdad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be the newly appointed leader of a local al-Qaeda cell operating in the southern part of the city. The city’s car-bombing network has been attempting to re-establish operations after significant degradation by Coalition forces in recent weeks including the Oct. 16 capture of the wanted individual and two additional suspects during an operation in southern Baghdad.
“Al-Qaeda still attempts to terrorize the Iraqi people in many areas,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman “There is still more work to be done, but through successful operations like these, they are losing their grip.”
“Won” is a problematic term. I think political violence in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan makes them like alcoholics: you’re never fully “cured” of alcoholism, you’re just clean and sober for another day, and hopefully another and another. Because all it takes with an alcoholic is one drink, and all it would take in Iraq is one particularly nasty extremist incident to have everyone fall back into old habits.
The hope is that those whose instinct is to kill their political opponent at the drop of a hat can be persuaded not to for long enough that a new generation can grow up whose instinct isn’t to kill, but rather to campaign or persuade – to fight political battles politically instead of violently. That’s not a short process. Remember, of the west still haven’t “won” the Balkan conflict.
Saying you’ve “won” is just asking for fate to smack you back down, and remind you that hubris is a dangerous thing.
We’re falling for the Jihadists trap. This is a clever ruse for them to infiltrate our prisons and detention camps. When the time is right, they will strike. I hear some of their allies are trying a similiar program in Afganistan. Supposedly they are trying to develop an immunity to bullets and bombs through repeated exposure. Never under-estimate their cleverness.