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May 15, 2005
Thoughts On Operation Matador
Strategy Page has in-depth observations on Operation Matador. (hat tip: Instapundit). Here are some bits I thought were important (all emphasis mine):
[T]he marines received a friendly reception in many villages, the people relieved to see someone who could run off the terrorists and restore order. Iraqi police, troops and border guards have come in behind the marine operation, as the Iraqi government has not had any presence in this area since early 2003, and not much before that.
One bright bit of news is the arrest of two former cabinet ministers for corruption. It remains to be seen if these two, and several others, will actually be prosecuted. [...] But as Iraqis who have lived in the United States point out, the only way to deal with corrupt politicians is to put them in jail. That happens in the United States and Europe, and those places prosper. [...] But it remains to be seen if Iraqis can do it.
Stategey Page notes that US forces and Iraqi military and police have learned to harden their installations against the jihadi tactics.
This left the terrorists with civilians, which they have been killing in large numbers. While Sunni Arab propaganda, especially outside Iraq, blames all this on "the American occupation," inside Iraq the mayhem is blamed on foreign fanatics, particularly from Saudi Arabia. Iraq and Saudi Arabia have never had a cozy relationship, and that long standing tension has been pumped up because of all those terror attacks carried out by Saudi Arabian Islamic radicals.
The marines and soldiers are out in the desert because the Iraqi police and army have more of central Iraq under control. This means that coalition troops can go take care of other business.
The entire post is well worth your time.
I think the continued targeting of Iraqi civilians by foreign jihadists can only increase Iraqi nationalism, and result in a corresponding increase in recruiting for and effectiveness of the Iraqi army and police. Furthermore, these recruits will be driven more and more by the solid motivation of protecting their own interests (family and property), in addition to the desire for a good salary.
Strategy Page's point about the historical distrust and tension between Iraq and Saudi Arabia is fascinating; indeed, Iraq's (especially an even moderately democratic Iraq) relations with its neighbors will be one of the most important and interesting areas to focus on going forward.
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Over at the Bernoulli Effect, Jeff is reflecting on Operation Matador... [Read More]
Tracked on May 15, 2005 05:16 PM
