POTUS Speech and ROE

[Hipshot]

Did anyone hear a mention of a change in the ROE over in Iraq? It seems to me that without that change, more troops just means more targets.

[Snaquebite]

Yes ..he mentioned a change in the ROE...also it's been talked about in several other news pieces...

Maybe this is somewhat encouraging: (insert dots)

http://www lasvegassun com/sunbin/stories/w-me/2007/jan/10/011009582.html

" "This time, Iraqi and American forces will have a green light to enter those neighborhoods," Bush said. "Prime Minister Maliki has pledged that political or sectarian interference will not be tolerated." "

" Al-Maliki on Saturday announced that his government would implement a new security plan for Baghdad, which consists of neighborhood-by-neighborhood sweeps by Iraqi forces backed by U.S. troops.

In the past, the Iraqi government has tried to prevent American military operations against the Mahdi Army, while giving U.S. forces a free hand against Sunni militants. The Bush administration has pushed al-Maliki, who took office in May, to curb his militia allies or allow U.S. troops to do the job. "



There is a comment in here about the Kurds. I thought I read a few days ago they would not get involed in securing Baghdad ...

[ROTCNY]

While I believe in POTUS's sincerity, we'll see if the Iraqi PM holds up to his end of the bargain and truely allows us freedom of manuever on the Sunni and Shiite militias. What will happen when we take on Muqtada?

[CDRODA396]

Originally Posted by pegasus

There is a comment in here about the Kurds. I thought I read a few days ago they would not get involed in securing Baghdad ...

I read somewhere the opposite, that to avoid Sunni / Shite issues, they were going to bring in 20K worth of Pesch to help "disarm" the Mahdi....that would be worth the price of admission to have ringside seats!

[Razor]

What you missed was the Pesh's definition of "disarm" is much more literal than many would expect.

[Hipshot]

My son called from Kuwait today. He's picked up a new secondary MOS - Camel Herder. They went out to the range yesterday to zero weapons and it seems there was a herd of camels downrange. He took his Hummer and went down to run them off. Must have done a good job.

He said that the change in ROE made everyone very happy. Now they don't have to be bleeding before they shoot back. They are looking forward to working more closely with the Iraqi army personnel. I wish there was some way we could get the politicians to know how the troops really feel! Maybe a requirement to be in the military before you run for public office? Just a thought...

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by Hipshot

I wish there was some way we could get the politicians to know how the troops really feel!

They would know...if they would listen. They're just too busy listening to themselves talk, makes 'em feel all important-like.

Glad you heard from your son, he's in my prayers!

[Sionnach]

According to The Iraqi Model, just the statement of sending more troops is having some affect.

http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/

In Diyala, politicians, religious and tribal figures demanded that their province be included in the security plan of Baghdad. This came after dozens of foreign Arab militants ran away from Baghdad to areas across Diyala in order to avoid raids by the Iraqi and American forces during the incoming security plan to secure Baghdad.

I don't know too much about this blog, but it appears to be a couple of Iraqis who believe in what we're doing, and want their country un-fornicate itself.

Edit: Iraqpundit had some "kind" words for Shrillary:

Iraq, you'll observe, is all about Hillary. Now, we didn't need Hillary to drop in for a glass of Iraqi tea to learn that there is a security crisis in Baghdad; we have a lot of Iraqi corpses that already tell us that. But the idea that we can measure the intensity of the issue by Hillary's body armor is an interesting alternative. And that's not even the best of Hillary's new Iraq.

http://iraqpundit.blogspot.com/

Signs that we're headed in the right direction....new ROE?


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?...&article=43001

Military: Mahdi Army weakened


By Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, January 24, 2007

American military officials are touting a recent series of operations aimed at the most powerful Shiite militia in Iraq, saying troops have captured 16 high-level militia members or commanders.

According to a statement released Tuesday, some 52 operations in the past 45 days have targeted the Mahdi Army, the armed wing of Muqtada al-Sadr’s organization. Another 42 operations, officials said, were targeted at what were termed “Sunni rejectionists/extremists.”

The joint operations have resulted in the capture of five Mahdi Army commanders from Sadr City, among the 16 captured. Military officials said the militia members are suspected of attacks against American and Iraqi troops, civilians and government officials. Mahdi Army leaders have been accused of heading sectarian death squads, mainly in Baghdad.

“The recent detentions are in addition to six other [Mahdi Army] leaders who have been detained … since the beginning of October,” the statement reads. “There are currently over 600 illegal [Mahdi Army] militia in detention awaiting prosecution by the government of Iraq.”

“Criminal activities by these individuals propagated instability within Iraq, and their removal from the social structure is a critical start to providing the Iraqi populace with a safe and stable environment.”

According to American military officials, 33 of the Sunni fighters captured are “cell leaders” in Baghdad. They are accused of “foreign fighter facilitation, car-bomb facilitation, and propaganda operations.”

Going after militias and other armed groups is the cornerstone of President Bush’s new security plan, with its planned boost of 21,500 troops. In the past, U.S. officials have complained about the Iraqi government releasing Shiite militia members or tacitly allowing them to carry out attacks on Sunnis.

In recent days, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has announced some 400 arrests of Mahdi Army members, though aides protested the arrest by Iraqi and American special forces of a top aide to al-Sadr.