Is Iraq Becoming Another Vietnam?

Since Bush's statement agreeing that Baghdad is looking to become like Tet in Vietnam, the MSM has been crowing louder than ever that it's a failure. Gleefully, the Dems have been waving that contention for all their worth. One thing continually pointed to is the increase in violence in Baghdad.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A campaign to make Baghdad safer is being reconsidered after a "disheartening" surge of violence, a U.S. military spokesman said Thursday.

Officials say "some modification" is needed to the security plan which was a linchpin in the effort to restore law and order in the Iraqi capital.

Insurgent attacks increased 22 percent during the first three weeks of Ramadan compared with the previous three weeks, Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said -- even as U.S. and Iraqi forces ramped up a 2-month-long crackdown in the capital.

"Operation Together Forward has made a difference in the focus areas but has not met our overall expectations of sustaining a reduction in the levels of violence," Caldwell said.

"We are working very closely with the government of Iraq to determine how best to refocus our efforts."

CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr called the announcement of a change in plans a "huge admission" by the military.

I'd love to aske these people if they really expected that the violence would go down when adding thousands more US troops in active militia suppression activities just prior to the US elections. There are two factors that ensure the increase in violence, the militias resisting coming under control of the government and the insurgency working their 4GW tactics to make Iraq look so violent that the MSM would ensure alterations of any positive view of progress there. I find it especially fascinating that the generals are playing to the defeatists.

Obviously, the MSM hasn't learned that Tet was a major loss in Vietnam. They also completely fail to realize that the end defeat in Vietnam was due to the stupidity in the US. The NVA was crushed during Tet and they had little resources to recover. The insurgent groups could very well been dealt with had the CAPs programs been continued and increased.

Then they go on to concede that violence has always increased during the Ramadan holiday in Iraq.

Caldwell said violence had risen in the holy month of Ramadan, as it had done in the previous two years, and insurgents also were reacting to the increased number of security patrols and even looking to influence midterm elections in the United States.

"The enemy knows killing innocent people and Americans will garner headlines and create a sense of frustration. However, the coalition will not be deterred from establishing an Iraq that can provide for its own security and govern itself," he said.

Well, apparently Caldwell does understand the causes. Funny that it wasn't stated until the end of the article. At least if was stated. Though it does make you ponder why his statements were so negative. Since being a general is such a political position, you'd think he'd have a clue that being negative would be interpreted and distorted by the politicos, not to mention the MSM.

The overall progress is also being hindered in the political realm.

U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. Williams Caldwell acknowledged Thursday that Prime Minister Al-Maliki had ordered U.S. officials to release Sheik Mazin al-Saidy, a top leader aligned with Al-Sadr, whose Mahdi Army militia is thought to be responsible for much of the sectarian killings. Caldwell wouldn't say why the release was ordered, noting that the sheik had been arrested by U.S. troops on suspicion of "illegal activity." Al-Maliki relies on Al-Sadr's support and has on occasions stepped in to protect Al-Sadr's group.

Maliki is a Shiite and Al-Sadr is a powerful force in a major section of Baghdad. Maliki does miss the point that if you wants to stop the sectarian violence, he needs to get control of the militias. They can't be allowed to run free, since they are the sources of the vast majority of death squads and there continued free reign will continue to aggravate the sectarian tensions. One hopes he got something substantial from Al-Sadr for the release of Mazin al-Saidy. It's more that obvious that the local sectarian leaders are ecstatic that the US military had to release him, and that will cause a great deal of problems for the military.

In fact, it already is.

Iraqi authorities are deploying more troops and senior security officials to the restive southern city of Amarah where at least 16 people have been killed and a notorious Shiite militia is said to have taken control.

And

It is unclear whether al-Sadr is supportive of the militia's actions. Al-Sadr has denounced and warned against violence in recent days and there is evidence that many of his followers have spun off into autonomous groups.

An official with al-Maliki's office told CNN the prime minister sent an emergency security delegation to Amarah that included the Minister of State for Security Affairs Shirwan al-Waili and other senior officials from the Interior and Defense ministries.

An Interior Ministry spokesman told CNN that more troops from Iraq's police and army were being deployed to Amarah, and would be there soon to control the situation.

According to sources, the clashes were sparked after the Chief of Police Intelligence in Maysan province, Ali Qasim al-Tamimi, was killed in a bombing.

Police in Amarah said the al-Tamimi family accused the Mehdi militia of carrying out the killing, and a retaliatory move, al-Tamimi family members kidnapped the militia commander's brother, who was in the city, according to a security source.

CNN received a call from an Amarah resident at the time of fighting, who reported hearing what he called "a fierce gun battle" that he said was taking place in the center of the city.

Could it be that Maliki has shown a weakness that is now being taken advantage of by the Mahdi army?

There is also a failure in most MSM articles on the topic to point out that the Iraqi security forces are failing to stand up to the job.

In an unusually stark assessment, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq acknowledged Thursday that a much-touted security crackdown by American and Iraqi forces had failed to reduce violence in the Iraqi capital and called the results "disheartening.''

No doubt the US military is partially responsible for this since they are providing training and support. But, if they fail to stand up for their own country, they fail completely.

Sadly, the more I listen to the news and the politicos, the more certain I am that we are headed for failure. With that failure we will pay a price in security. Of course, the politicians will then twist that reality into being solely the fault of Bush while completely ignoring their own actions destroying the possibility of success.