To: NickSE who wrote (108061 ) 7/25/2003 8:55:15 PM From: Bilow Respond to of 281500 Hi Ghostrider; Interesting article. Here are some comments on it: Re: "Also in the past 24 hours, Fox News has learned, an Iraqi nuclear researcher turned himself in to the U.S. military in Baghdad. Although it's not yet known just what information, if any, he is supplying, senior defense officials say this, too, is promising news. " This is such obvious BS that it makes me laught. When should be conclude that this was just another empty leak, the end of August? Re: "The Bush administration and U.S. officials hope more Iraqis will come forward with information ... " The administration is in "hope" mode. Re: "But Odierno said attacks on U.S. forces in the area have dropped by half in the past month. Although there are fewer attacks, some have been more sophisticated, including the use of improvised bombs, Odierno said. " Each month that has gone by, since Bush declared an end to "major" hostilities, has seen an increase in US combat deaths. July has been no exception. If there are some areas that are quieter, then there must be other areas that are roudier. My guess is that the areas where the US has pulled back from (and no longer patrols, such as Fallujah) are the areas where there have been fewer attacks on US forces. If this is the case, then it is clear that the areas where US soldiers do patrol are suffering much heavier casualties than before. In other words, the administration is fighting the war in order to minimize US casualties in the short term, not to win it. A Karl Rove strategy. Re: "They are going after softer targets, because they know they're ineffective against military targets," he said. "We see this as a desperation move." Uh, they're killing more and more of us is a sign that they are desperate? We should be the ones who are worried. This is just more false bravado that is traditionally mouthed by losers in wars. Re: "Attacking Iraqis is backfiring and prompting more citizens to offer the Americans helpful information, Odierno said. " This would be wonderful, if true, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. When we see US combat deaths dropping, then we can begin to believe this. If the administration history is any example, then they're blowing smoke up our butts. But note that he provides zero examples of this. The guy who turned in Saddam's sons, for example, apparently did it because he (a) wanted $30 million, and (b) didn't like the way his "guests" were acting in his house. -- Carl