Iraqi Troops Retake Ramadi: A Turning Point?

Iraqi troops taking back Ramadi

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Ramadi 22 April 06
Todd Pittman//AP[/caption]It is being reported that 8,000-10,000 Iraqi troops are set to take back Ramadi "soon". Having been there in 2006, I highly doubt it will happen. However I suppose anything is possible (but this not). From Military Times:Iraqi troops closing in on Ramadi outnumber Islamic State militants by as many as 10 to one, a U.S. official told Military Times on Friday.The offensive to wrest back control of the city involves between 8,000 and 10,000 Iraqi security forces, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition overseeing the fight against the Islamic State group.No American military personnel are on the ground fighting alongside them, he said.Three U.S.-trained Iraqi brigades are participating in the operation, Warren said. They face between 600 and 1,000 well-entrenched Islamic State fighters.American and coalition warplanes have conducted airstrikes in and around Ramadi since the summer, aiming to weaken the militants' grip ahead of the highly anticipated ground operation that began Wednesday.

"We believe the Iraqis will finish soon," Warren said, adding that Iraq's government has a "detailed plan to use tribal fighters, federal police and local police for stabilization" once the city is cleared.See the full story from Military Times.Forgive my cynicism here but how in the holy hell are 8-10 k Iraqi's going to take back this city when U.S. Troops took almost 2 years? No amount of Airstrikes is going to help in this effort, as it was learned in 2006. The only way to take that city as well as others, is boots on the ground. Denying any chance of enemy movement, and conducting raids to kill or capture (kill them and save the money), is the only thing that will work. This is the equivalent of peeing on a gas fire. Thank you Col Warren for yet one more slap in the face surrounding Ramadi.[mwi-cat-listing cat="94" ppp="4" cols="4" desc="false" type="view" btn_color="black" ]