30,000 Iraqi Troops Mass To Surge Into Diyala

Along with 10,000 American troops.

They're rolling in August 1st, which is also the date of the planned McCain "money bomb."

I question scheduled the timing.

If successful the operation will add to an impressive run of victories for the security strategy of the prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.

...

A succession of disruption campaigns have already been waged in Diyala. American forces encountered major resistance last year in Operation Arrowhead Ripper, which was supposed to clear the city of Baquba, once declared the capital of al-Qaeda's putative Islamic State of Iraq.

Diyala is often described as a microcosm of Iraq with significant tensions between settled ethnic and sectarian populations. In addition its terrain ranges from mountains to densely vegetated river valleys criss-crossed with rat-runs for terrorist groups. It is also a major conduit for Iranian arms and supplies to Shia militias.

"Diyala remains the most dangerous province in Iraq," said Colonel Ali al-Karkhi, an Iraqi officer in the province.

"But understand that it is a mini-Iraq. There are Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Christians. The other provinces are far less mixed which is why it is so difficult to restore peace here. It is also the reason why people are so extremist."

In his hidden lair in Iran, Moqtada al-Sadr suppressed a dark chuckle as he analyzed the Coalition's woefully inadequate battle plans. "Fools," he hissed, and then drank a glass of exquisite 1948 port, the drink staining his satisfied smile the color of rubies, and blood.

And now it was set.

-- Excerpt from Blood-Splattered Dawn (A Moqtada al-Sadr Action Thriller), by Moqtada al-Sadr, edited by everyone in the MSM. Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved.

posted by Ace at 08:09 PM

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