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[Previous entry: "Insecurity in Iraq"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Operation Northern Exit"] 17 July 2003: "The Secretary's chariot is definitely on fire"Two weeks ago, I wrote an entry contending that US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was channelling the spirit of General William C. Westmoreland. From the Washington Post article "No Iraq 'Quagmire,' Rumsfeld Asserts" (01-Jul-2003): One reporter quoted the Pentagon's own definition of guerrilla war -- "military and paramilitary operations conducted in enemy-held or hostile territory by irregular ground indigenous forces" -- and told Rumsfeld, "Seems to fit a lot of what's going on in Iraq."From today's edition of the Olympian, an AP article "Iraq attacks escalate": The new commander in Iraq [General John Abizaid] admitted for the first time Wednesday that U.S. forces are facing a "classical guerrilla-type war situation" against foes ranging from members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party to non-Iraqi fighters from anti-U.S. groups.Emphasis underlined and in bold mine. A more complete (and unpraphrased) quote can be found on ITV.com: At a Pentagon briefing [Gen Abizaid] admitted the attackers were becoming better organised: "Certainly we are fighting Baathist remnants throughout the country. I believe there is mid-level Baathist Iraqi intelligence service people, special security organisation people, special Republican Guard people who have organised at the regional level in cellular structure and are conducting what I would describe as a classical guerilla-type campaign against us."I didn't go far enough in my earlier post. I should have just called Rumsfeld the fucking liar he is. |
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