Major development in Iraq

Sam at Hammorabi is reporting a major arrest of terrorists in Iraq.

Iyad Alawi the interim PM of Iraq announced that the Iraqi authorities with the help of the multinational forces arrested 167 Arab terrorists and at least 3000 Baathists under the leadership of Izat Al-Dori (Abo Al-thalaj). These arrests include two of Abo-Althalaj deputies. It also includes 4 of the important members of the Jordanian/Palestinian terrorists Abu Mosab Zarqawi. The movement names of these terrorists are Abo Anis the Palestinian, Abo Mohammad from Lebanon, Abo Ahmed from Tabok in Saudi Arabia and Abo Omar from Egypt.

With the defeat of Fallujah and Ramadi looming on the horizon, the end is near. The terrorists cannot sustain their reign of terror much longer.

Belmont Club is reporting that Fallujah is surrounded by the 5th Marines, Ramadi is surrounded by the 1st Marines and the 7th Marines are guarding the Syrian-Iraqi border to prevent reinforcements.

1st Marines is a brigade-sized force of about 3 thousand men and the other units are of the same size, all part of the First Marine Division. Chester's exposition above reveals a great deal about the nature of the conflict the US is facing in Iraq. The deployments suggest that Syria is the operational rear of the insurgents in the Sunni Triangle, which is why 7th Marines has been positioned to interdict the infiltration flow. The infiltration trickle finds its way to various sumps, or collection areas, where they are concentrated, tasked and launched out on attacks. Ramadi and Fallujah are probably typical of these. As Chester pointed out, they serve as command and control and probably training bases.

1st Marines will be supported by attachments, such as a logistics group and both aerial and artillery fires. The Iraqi component may consist of a slightly smaller force. The possible ground force deployed against Fallujah will be on the order of 5,000 men of whom about 3 thousand will be American. A glance at a large scale map (courtesy of Global Security) will give the reader a feel for the terrain.

Before the elections in January, the terrorists in Iraq will have been vanquished, and Iraq will be stabilized. Expect to see successful elections then, a dramatic change in the prospects for a democratic Iraq and an astonished Arab world, unable to explain or comprehend what has taken place.

The "experts" said it couldn't be done.