Taking the fight to em'

Fire of Liberty

While the Democrats are circling President Bush with clenched teeth much like sharks do around whales when they get stuck on sandbars, the men and women of our armed forces are pushing ahead in promoting democracy for Iraq and securing it from the Islamic fundamentalists. According to this story in USA Today, a contingent force of 3,500 US and 1,000 Iraqi soldiers have had a success in cutting down the amounts of foreign terrorists entering Iraq via the Syrian border some 50% after launching Operation Steel Curtain in western Iraq. (Luckily our steel curtain isn't meant to keep the Iraqi people in like the one constructed by the Soviets) By using these Iraqi forces alongside the US troops, they Iraqi forces are gaining much needed experience that allows them to come online and ensure the "hold" aspect of this "sweep and hold" campaign throughout Iraq. The "hold" aspect basically is where the Iraqi forces take over a territory secured by the US/Iraqi forces and allows the US to focus their firepower and troop presence in other more pressing areas in Iraq. This is a chief example of the US and the Iraqis sharing the burden of securing Iraq from the forces of evil that threaten to tear down the burgeoning democracy at its early stage of life. Though you want hear it in the MSM, Operation Steel Curtain and the holding via the Iraqi forces is the right track in implementing an effective counter-insurgency/terrorist strategy that is found in the US Marines Small Wars Manual and was clearly demonstrated by Gen. Creighton Abrams in the latter half of the Vietnam War, see here.(While he was still getting the money from congress.)

I particularly like what the Marines have been doing in the deserts of western Iraq. They seem to have the Small Wars Manual memorized inside and out. See for yourself:

The Marines have also taken an unorthodox approach in training local forces in the western desert. They created a force of clans and tribesmen called the Desert Protection Force. The tribesmen are integrated into Iraqi army units and work as scouts and reconnaissance teams.

"The Desert Protectors are tribesmen who know their areas like the back of their hand, and know where the foreign fighters and terrorists are and know who they are," Smith said.

Like I've said in previous posts, the US is blessed to have soldiers who work with what they have and seem to adapt to the situation at hand. So G-d bless you all who are fighting it out for freedom and democracy in Iraq. Keep on drainin' the swamp ya'll, we're behind ya all the way.