January 11, 2008: U.S. and Iraqi forces
have recently launched several major operations against new terrorist bases (established
by those fleeing last year's "Surge Offensive" in and around Baghdad.) These
attacks come in different forms. In a rural areas south of Baghdad, 25 tons of
smart bombs went off within a few minutes of each area, as a farming compound
full of terrorists was destroyed. Troops and police then went in to collect
evidence. Paper documents often survive such attacks, and al Qaeda continues to
generate a lot of paper records, despite the increased use of laptop computers.
North of Baghdad, Operation Phantom Phoenix
sent several brigades of U.S. and Iraqi troops after specific terrorist
targets. Using speed, surprise and, often, precise information about terrorist
locations and personnel, the raids and searches sought to prevent the rebel
groups from regaining the organizational strength is had a year ago. The
terrorists have taken major leadership losses, but there are still thousand
true believers (of Islamic terror) left. These are the hard core; either men
who know the Americans have a file on them (detailing their crimes), or former
Saddam henchmen who know that other Iraqis can identify, and convict (or
assassinate) them. It's like the end of World War II, when many of the men of
Hitler's secret police and SS combat troops fought to the death, knowing
surrender was a death sentence. It's another Götterdämmerung like performance
by another bunch of murderous maniacs.
The maniacs are now concentrating on
killing as many of their former Sunni Arab allies as they can. The leadership
is the main target, but this just makes the Sunni Arab tribes angrier. Tribes
have a pecking order, so there is an endless supply of replacements for dead
leaders. And the replacements are eager to show they are worthy, by embracing
the tribal custom of blood feud. The killers must suffer retaliation, and each successful
al Qaeda assassination creates more hatred of al Qaeda.
