« The Historic Mission Control | Main | Scientific Mysteries »
March 23, 2005
More Jihadists Taken Out
A nice haul today for coalition and Iraqi forces (hat tip LGF):
85 Militants Killed in U.S. Raid in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq [via AP]- U.S. and Iraqi forces killed 85 militants at a suspected training camp along the marshy shores of a remote lake, one of the highest guerrilla death tolls of the two-year insurgency, officials said Wednesday. They said citizens emboldened by the January elections are increasingly turning in intelligence tips. [...]
In three days, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials' accounts, troops have killed at least 128 insurgents nationwide, culminating in the announcement of Tuesday's attack by Iraqi commandos, backed by U.S. air and ground fire. [...]
The [US] military declined Wednesday to confirm the Iraqi government's death toll of 85 militants, and it was impossible to check the figure independently. [...]
Well, let's hope the number is accurate; the following seems to be in keeping with the first estimate:
U.S. Army Maj. Richard Goldenberg, a 42nd Infantry Division spokesman, said an estimated 80 to 100 insurgents were at the camp, 60 miles north of Ramadi, and that some insurgents fled with casualties before the area could be surrounded.
First, there's no indication of how the 85 were killed (if indeed that number is correct), but the marshy conditions and difficult access could indicate that that majority were taken out by ground forces, as opposed to the air support. My point is that 85 killed would indicate to me a well-functioning, disciplined Iraqi force--this wasn't a small operation. Any and all reports of successful ops by Iraqi forces are damned good news.
Second, given the admitted participation of Iraqi troops (regardless of how they performed), isn't the headline a little odd?
Very encouraging, anyway. Now let's get that government finalized.
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.thebernoullieffect.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/68
