WP: U.S., Iraq Prepare Offensive to Pave Way for Election

[kskiska]

Sunday, September 26, 2004; Page A01

The United States and Iraq are crafting a two-pronged plan to prepare for Iraq's first democratic election in January, combining a fall military offensive to evict insurgents from volatile areas with creative approaches to ensure that voters will participate in the historic poll, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials.

To address deteriorating security, the plan calls for U.S. forces to lead a campaign to clean out insurgents in three key provincial capitals and Fallujah, opening up the cities for Iraqi forces to move in and retain control to prepare for balloting, officials said.

The goal is to use U.S. military muscle decisively but briefly, and then leave to avoid becoming targets or fueling further anti-U.S. sentiment, say U.S. and Iraqi officials. While the United States is confident it can win a military battle, the bigger challenge is creating an Iraqi government presence to prevent key areas from reverting into chaos -- a problem after a U.S. offensive in Fallujah last spring.

(snip)

"I've got real doubts about these guys," said retired Army Col. W. Patrick Lang, former head of Middle Eastern Affairs for the Defense Intelligence Agency. "I think the whole election thing is too soon," he said. "They're rushing it -- they don't have enough trained troops."

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50260-2004Sep25.html

[darknesstolight]

1. Do you mean the partial election

Do you mean the rushed fast tracked election that does not count all the Iraqi people. It would be easy to hire some one to disrupt the areas you are opposed and not count the votes. Its like the Florida vote hear only part of the votes count or the chad....

[frylock]

2. sounds like col. pat is undermining the whole operation..

what with his negative outlook and all. Why does he hate America?

[VegasWolf]

3. Let's think about it, each polling place with its own gun turretts!!

[VegasWolf]

4. "Step Aside!" "Step Aside!" "Make way for the new <wink>"Voting Machines"

[sally343434]

5. Bomb the civilians into freedom

If you don't support our puppet, we'll kill you. Sounds like the Cheney recipe for success! How long before the milatary begins to "clean out insurgents" in selected areas of the US?

[Voltaire99]

6. Failure ahead

The body counts will be horrendous, and the Vietnamization idea will be a bust. Upshot: more terrorists created, and the world will newly revile this occupation.

The only sane answer is withdrawal now.

[Aidoneus]

7. "My center is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent...

...I shall attack."

:eyes:

[burrowowl]

8. That about sums it up

GWB is crazy, are the sheeple crazy enough to re-select him?

[KittyWampus]

9. Patrick Lang Is In For A Tounge Lashing From GOP Enforcement Crew

Or, at least, the media probably won't be talking to him again.