Read other letters about this article

• Tuesday, December 2, 2008 07:12 AM

  KO may have unclean hands

  Found this transcript online: (here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6452480/)

  [TRANSCRIPT] - Also devoid of any conflict disclaimers...

  There is no doubt that it is a full scale military operation. 15,000 U.S. and Iraqi troop punching through northern and eastern quadrants of the city, reaching the central highway intersection earlier today. Resistance has been sporadic with streets deserted and marines only encountering small bands of insurgents. Thus far 10 U.S. soldiers and marines and two Iraqi government troops have reportedly been killed in the two-day offensive. To try to get a grasp on what we‘re doing in Fallujah, we‘re honored to again be joined by the MSNBC military analyst, retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffrey. General McCaffrey, good evening.

  GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY, US ARMY (RET): Yeah, hi, Keith. I‘m out in Tacoma, Washington, thanks.

  OLBERMANN: Thank you. Let me start with the reporting that the house to house resistance that the U.S. forces were expecting has been less than expected. Is that good news or is that too reminiscent of what didn‘t happen in Baghdad after the invasion itself, when it proved just to be a precursor to insurgency?

  MCCAFFREY: Well, the insurgents would be unwise to try to take on marines in house to house fighting. They are backed up by two battalions of the 1st Cavalry and 1st Infantry Division using tanks and mechanized fighting vehicles. We have AC-130 Air Force gunship and precision strikes by naval aircraft. So fighting, they will be destroyed. It is not surprising that so far, they‘re trying to go to ground. We‘re going to end up taking the city. Hopefully it will be the easiest way in two or three days instead of seven to 10 days of hard fighting.

  OLBERMANN: This has been billed throughout as a means of increasing the chances of those Iraqi elections that are supposed to occur less than 80 days from now. Is it going to have that effect? Is it going to hinder the insurgents sufficiently?

  MCCAFFREY: No. I don‘t think so. I think the reason we have to take down Fallujah, and Ramadi and Samarra and these other places, is because they are acting as a sanctuary for armed attacks by these former regime elements, Ba‘athists. All throughout Baghdad, all throughout the northwestern part of the Iraq. I can‘t imagine the Sunni Muslims are going to agree to a democratic mechanism of government under which they, 20 percent of the population, that dominated Iraq for 50 years, political, economic, military, why would they agree to that? They‘re going to fight and they‘re going to try to regain control of Iraq.

  OLBERMANN: Ultimately, General McCaffrey, what will the outcome in Fallujah be? You‘ve already suggested how long it might take. What there its impact be on the big picture there?

  MCCAFFREY: Well, a pretty good one. I don‘t think we could have tolerated a continuing erosion of casualties, U.S. and allied. Terrible destructive attacks on the Iraqi police and National Guard and the governmental figures. So a lot of that was coming out of Fallujah and Ramadi. We‘ll go in and kill those people and then hopefully, re-assert control. That‘s the tough part, it seems to me, Keith. Is that I‘m very skeptical about the ability of these National Guard battalion, Iraqi and police units, to actually stay in control of this hotbed of insurgency. It doesn‘t sound like it is likely to happen.

  OLBERMANN: General Barry McCaffrey as always, we greatly appreciate your insight and your time tonight, sir.

  —El Zongo Read El Zongo's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel