[Dean's World] Dave Price: Operation Phantom Phoenix Meets Little Resistance in Diyala

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Posted by Dave Price:
Operation Phantom Phoenix Meets Little Resistance in Diyala
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1199911631.shtml


   Huge numbers in [1]this operation:

     Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling told reporters in Baghdad that in his
     area of control alone, 24,000 American troops, 50,000 members of
     the Iraq army and 80,000 Iraqi police were taking part in the
     offensive against al-Qaida in Iraq.

   And why are such big numbers of soldiers available?

     Asked about the timing of the operation, Hertling said the answer
     was simple.
     "Why now? Because we can. Baghdad is more secure. Anbar is more
     secure," he said. "Why now? Because ... the enemy has moved into
     these (northern) provinces."

   Speculation is that the resistance is light because so many militants
   have fled. It's not clear how many areas are left for them to flee to
   at this point; Anbar is pretty locked down and on our side, as
   evidenced by [2]another great essay from Michael Totten:

     Every mosque in the Fallujah area â and there are more than 200 of
     them â broadcast pro-American messages from minaret loudspeakers.
     The messages inside the walls are as pro-American as the ones
     outside. The Marines have fluent Arabic-speakers listening in so
     they can keep their ears close to the ground of public opinion. If
     the mosques turn against Americans again, the Marines need to know

   Bill Roggio also has [3]more detail on Phantom Phoenix.

References

   1. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/iraq;_ylt=Aodo5vitfLJYyz8FaGzelE5X6GMA
   2. http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/2008/01/the-rings-on-za.php
   3. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/01/operation_phantom_ph.php