Are we waiting till after the election to attack 30 Iraq Cities?

[MSgt213]

Seems strange to me but check these out. We might be putting our soliders lives at risk so we can reselect GW.

Prime Minister Allawi is also said to be negotiating for a return of central government control to the city of Fallujah.

Az-Zaman says that Washington has given the Department of Defense the green light to attack 30 Iraqi cities where guerrillas rule, beginning after the Nov. 2 US election.

http://www.juancole.com/

Bush Administration Plans to Delay Major Assaults in Iraq

By Mark Mazzetti, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration will delay major assaults on rebel-held cities in Iraq until after U.S. elections in November, say administration officials, mindful that large-scale military offensives could affect the U.S. presidential race.

Although American commanders in Iraq have been buoyed by recent successes in insurgent-held towns such as Samarra and Tall Afar, administration and Pentagon officials say they will not try to retake cities such as Fallujah and Ramadi -- where insurgents' grip is strongest and U.S. military casualties could be the greatest -- until after Americans vote in what is likely to be a close election.

"When this election's over, you'll see us move very vigorously," said one senior administration official involved in strategic planning, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Once you're past the election, it changes the political ramifications" of a large-scale offensive, the official said. "We're not on hold right now. We're just not as aggressive."

http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/extra/archives/001017.html

[tom_paine]

1. "We" aren't. The Imperial Family is.

As you well know, what the Imperial Family does has as much connection to what Imperial Subjects want as what Ferdinand Marcos did.

[IkeWarnedUs]

2. story in the LA Times

Here is the story in today's LA Times:

Major Assaults on Hold Until After U.S. Vote
Attacks on Iraq's rebel-held cities will be delayed, officials say. But that could make it harder to allow wider, and more legitimate, Iraqi voting in January.

by Mark Mazzetti, LA Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration plans to delay major assaults on rebel-held cities in Iraq until after U.S. elections in November, say administration officials, mindful that large-scale military offensives could affect the U.S. presidential race.

Although American commanders in Iraq have been buoyed by recent successes in insurgent-held towns such as Samarra and Tall Afar, administration and Pentagon officials say they will not try to retake cities such as Fallouja and Ramadi — where the insurgents' grip is strongest and U.S. military casualties could be the highest — until after Americans vote in what is likely to be an extremely close election.

"When this election's over, you'll see us move very vigorously," said one senior administration official involved in strategic planning, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Once you're past the election, it changes the political ramifications" of a large-scale offensive, the official said. "We're not on hold right now. We're just not as aggressive."

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-strategy11oct11,1,7977309.story?coll=la-home-headlines