Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Restive Iraq provinces defy U.S. withdrawal timeline  
 
 
 
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
 
 
 
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restive Iraq provinces defy U.S. withdrawal timeline
 
 
  
 
 Reuters - Monday, July  5
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Matt Robinson
 
JALAWLA, Iraq - It was a tip-off about a weapons cache that drew the U.S. soldiers of Charlie Troop away from their Stryker armoured vehicles in the densely populated Iraqi town of Jalawla one Friday morning last month.
 
That was when the suicide bomber struck, detonating a car bomb so "catastrophic" that details of the attack that killed Sergeant Israel O'Bryan and Specialist William Yauch are still hazy, their commanding officer said.
 
One thing was clear: the insurgency in Jalawla won't lie down.
 
Like other towns across Iraq's restive northern provinces of Diyala, Kirkuk and Nineveh, Jalawla defies the U.S. narrative of an end to combat operations next month under a plan to pull out of Iraq completely by the end of 2011.
 
"I would say we're pretty far from rolling up the insurgency in Jalawla," said Charlie Troop commander Captain Mark Adams of the 1st Squadron, 14th U.S. Cavalry. "I don't feel we've made a whole lot of progress there."
 
For the ethnically and religiously-mixed arc running from Jalawla near Iraq's eastern border with Iran to the western frontier with Syria, the transition on August 31 is less a milestone than a matter of semantics.
 
Operations that to outsiders will look pretty much like combat will continue in areas where a stubborn Sunni Islamist insurgency remains entrenched, despite a sharp fall in overall violence since the height of the sectarian slaughter in 2006/07.
 
They will, however, be called "stability operations," loosely defined as advising, assisting, training and equipping Iraqi forces -- a role U.S. forces have had for some time.
 
U.S. troops will "continue to conduct partnered counter terrorism operations to maintain pressure on extremist terrorist networks," said chief spokesman Major General Stephen Lanza.
 
U.S. troop numbers will fall to 50,000 on September 1 from around 77,000 now. Bases are closing, hardware going to Afghanistan and units flying home without replacement.
 
In disputed territories adjacent to Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, where Arabs and Kurds wrestle over land and power, insurgent cells have regrouped after being driven out of much of Iraq's Sunni heartland.
 
Here, U.S. soldiers will still occasionally shoot, and be shot at after September 1.
 
Al Qaeda "is down but not out," said U.S. forces Division North commander Major General Tony Cucolo. "We take down a cell, but on a smaller, less capable level it re-forms."
 
The threat "can't be handled" by Iraqi Security Forces "as they are," he said on a Blackhawk helicopter flight over Diyala.
 
PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE
 
The response to the Jalawla attack on June 11 provides a snapshot of the challenges and frustrations that confront U.S. forces often playing second fiddle to their Iraqi counterparts.
 
While U.S. special forces successfully hunted down at least one suspected insurgent, Iraqi police failed to turn up for a 6 a.m. roadside rendezvous on the last day of a two-week search operation across Jalawla.
 
They began without U.S. support and found nothing.
 
"We're supposed to clear the whole town, but they never find anything," said Lieutenant Jan Dudzinski, 26, seeking shade in the desert as his platoon provided a "cordon" for the operation named Jalawla Peacemaker. Trust between the two forces is low.
 
"The planning, the way they do it, doesn't work," said Sergeant Jeremy Hare, a 32-year-old veteran of four Iraq tours. "They get bored of it and don't clear as well."
 
As other bases close, Forward Operating Base Cobra in Diyala will remain at the same strength beyond Sept 1.
 
U.S. soldiers will continue to man checkpoints with Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, an exercise in cooperation which some observers say might not survive a U.S. departure.
 
A recent spike in violence, with mortar rounds lobbed at FOB Cobra and nearby Checkpoint Three, had reinforced the need for a robust U.S. presence, said Major Robert Halvorson, who drafted the military's report into the Jalawla attack.
 
The insurgents were perhaps trying to exploit a political paralysis in the capital, where Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish political factions have yet to form a government almost four months after an election, officers said.
 
"By all their activity here they're actually drawing us here," said Halvorson, "and this is where we're going to fight them so people don't have to fight them in Baghdad."
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Articles
 
 
Turkey threatens 'to sever ties' with Israel AFP - Tuesday, July  6
 
UK-World Summary Reuters -  47 minutes ago
 
Iran says Germany, UK and UAE deny fuel to its planes Reuters - 1 hour 32 minutes ago
 
Three NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan AFP - 1 hour 4 minutes ago
 
Lower German deficit an example for Europe: Berlin AFP - 1 hour 7 minutes ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
Tour peloton shrugs of cobblestone worry
Lower German deficit an example for Europe: Berlin
BP oil spill costs spike above $3 bln
Swiss show brings heirs to discuss Picasso, Klee
Japanese probe yields insights into Moon's inner life
 
 
 
 More Top Stories »
 
 
 
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
Most Viewed
 
Most Recommended
 
 
 
 
Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again
 
Japanese probe yields insights into Moon's inner life
 
Lady Gaga leads race to get 10 million on Facebook
 
Paris Hilton arrested after Brazil World Cup match: reports
 
Awesome Nadal crushes Berdych to win Wimbledon
 
 
 More Most Viewed »
 
 
 
 
 
Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again
 
Aussie men shoot each other in buttocks 'to see if it hurts'
 
Amputee cat gets bionic legs
 
Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary
 
Who's right - the dolphin or the octopus?
 
 
 More Most Recommended »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
 
 
 
 
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
 
 
Stars and latest movies
 
 
Best travel destinations
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
More on Yahoo! News
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
 
Also on Yahoo
 
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
 
Site Highlights
 
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
  
   
 
 
    
   
 
Other News on Monday,  5 July 2010 Israeli minister to meet Palestinian PM  
Syria jails elderly government critic for 3 years  
Two French ministers quit in row over perks  
Israeli minister to meet Palestinian PM
|  
Biden nudges Iraqi leaders to end deadlock  
Pope in plea for a bit of quiet  
Japanese probe yields insights into Moon's inner life  
U.S.-Russian ties will not be harmed: Medvedev
|  
Awesome Nadal crushes Berdych to win Wimbledon  
Two scandal-tainted French junior ministers resign
|  
Clinton presses Azerbaijan-Armenia peace efforts  
Four die in Iraq suicide bomb attack  
Ecuador busts first ever fully functional drug sub
|  
Jailed PKK leader says peace with Turkey possible: report
|  
Syria jails elderly government critic for 3 years
|  
Drug killings weigh as Mexican states vote
|  
Nigerian gunmen release 12 foreign hostages
|  
Egypt's Mubarak flies to Algeria on condolence trip
|  
U.S.-Russian ties will not be harmed  
China wants 'credible' Sudan referendum, Darfur solution  
Thailand must lift emergency rule, hold polls: think-tank  
West China city braces for deadly riot anniversary  
Afghan gov't: 63 drug smugglers, terrorists killed  
Asian economies see opportunity as China's lustre dims  
China premier: economic environment 'complicated'  
Last gasp for beer fest as Munich votes to ban smoking  
'Twilight' eclipses weekend box office competition  
Treasure trove of vintage Arab film posters hidden in Beirut  
Zubin Mehta conducts Israel concert for captive soldier  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
New "Twilight" sequel earns less than predecessor  
South African lesbians find refuge in football  
Caravaggio remains go on display in Italy  
New Twilight sequel earns less than predecessor
|  
NATO: soldier killed on patrol in Afghanistan  
Biden nudges Iraqi leaders to end deadlock
|  
US-TECH Summary  
Six killed in accident at Russian firing range  
Hopes for peace with Afghan prisoner releases  
Reforms in focus after Komorowski wins Polish election
|  
Lenovo says Apple losing out in China: report  
China convicts U.S. geologist of stealing state secrets
|  
Jailed PKK leader says peace with Turkey possible  
Mexico state elections stage battle for presidency
|  
Petraeus takes over Afghan fight, vows 'to win' it  
Special Report: China's new migrant workers pushing the line
|  
China's far-west city held in check on bloody anniversary
|  
Thais should lift emergency or risk violence says group
|  
US geologist jailed for eight years in China  
Detainee's death stirs anger in restive Thai south  
Biden pushes for Iraq breakthrough  
Support for Japan PM plunges in polls  
Horses bolt during Iowa parade; 1 killed, 23 hurt  
China to host new round of climate talks: report  
First activist killed under new Philippine leader  
Clinton pushes for Nagorno-Karabakh solution  
China convicts U.S. geologist of stealing state secrets  
Deadly suicide attack hits Pakistan troops: police  
Rough weather curtails some Gulf cleanup work  
China's far-west city held in check on bloody anniversary  
NYC airport terminal reopens after false alarm  
Japanese lab finds 'minute particles' in asteroid pod  
Lenovo says Apple losing out in China: report
|  
Australia urged to end asylum freeze and 'refugee-bashing'  
Seoul shares inch up led by shipyards, steelmakers  
Strike over fuel prices disrupts cities in India  
RPT-Risk of slower NZ growth increases  
Lenovo says Apple missing huge opportunities in China  
PAKISTAN  
South African pilgrims bring vuvuzelas to pray  
South Korea fails to make it into Citigroup's WGBI  
Show gathers both heirs to marvel at Picasso, Klee  
South Korea bonds down; muted to failed WGBI inclusion  
No justice for Haiti's women inmates  
S.Korea bonds down; muted to failed WGBI inclusion  
We have a 'wiener': American eats the most hot dogs  
Seoul shares edge up; STX Offshore jumps  
RPT-PREVIEW-Taiwan June CPI seen up 0.89 pct y/y  
Jailed Kurdish children a blight on Turkey's future  
Lower German deficit an example for Europe: Berlin  
Turkey wants Israel apology but Israel rejects demand  
Interpol asks Web surfers to help catch fugitives  
Iran says Germany, UK, UAE deny fuel to its planes
|  
Restive Iraq provinces defy U.S. withdrawal timeline  
BP oil spill costs spike above $3 bln  
Iraq troops and Kurd fighters clash in volatile north
|  
Swiss show brings heirs to discuss Picasso, Klee  
Turkey wants Israel apology, but Israel rejects demand
|  
Kyrgyz leader warns of risk of further violence
|  
Palestinian PM meets Israeli minister
|  
Guinea bans vote protests before court verdict
|  
Body of chess champion Fischer exhumed in Iceland
|  
China deploys troops for Xinjiang riot anniversary  
French parliament to vote on proposed veil ban
|  
India rocked by strike over fuel prices  
Eight to be charged over Indonesia sex videos  
Hillary Clinton blasts Russia on Georgia visit  
US geologist jailed for eight years in China  
Seoul wants 'clear and firm' UN message to N.Korea  
Hotdoggin' it: Ex-champ crashes NYC eating contest  
Derided no more, suburban life is turning serious  
Pakistani stocks thin, index edges lower  
Shanghai composite index hits 15-month low  
Anil Ambani's RNRL shares dive after merger  
Japan trading house buys into US lithium producer  
China revises up Q1 current account surplus  
Thailand's Banpu bids for Australia coal firm  
Private detectives: a pre-nuptial priority for some in India  
Vietnam breaks ground on US$1.2bn coal power plant  
Paris Hilton questioned by police after Cup match
|  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights