These attacks are getting worse ...

[Vympel]

Prior to the deaths of Odai and Quasay (whatever the hell the spelling is), it was typical for there to be at most 1-2 deaths a day in Iraq. Now it seems like the attacks are getting worse- the day after, 3 US soldiers died in a day, and just yesterday 4 died in one day, 3 in one attack, and 1 in a seperate incident. I'm not suggesting that the deaths of the Hussein bros has anything to do with it, it's just a reference point.

Guarding a children's hospital, grenade attack, four wounded as well

[Dark Hellion]

Wow, there pissed we killed their leaders.
It was not unexpected by us (the board members). The president painted a rosy picture, we saw through it.
We still killed a pair of murderous rapist bastards. Thats a good.

[Drewcifer]

I read in the paper today, iirc, that there are fewer attacks, but they are getting deadlier, and more complex: timing devices and long det cords are being favored over sniper and martyr type attacks.

[Howedar]

I'm not going to pass judgement on two days. In a week, then I'll say something.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Prior to the deaths of Odai and Quasay (whatever the hell the spelling is), it was typical for there to be at most 1-2 deaths a day in Iraq. Now it seems like the attacks are getting worse- the day after, 3 US soldiers died in a day, and just yesterday 4 died in one day, 3 in one attack, and 1 in a seperate incident. I'm not suggesting that the deaths of the Hussein bros has anything to do with it, it's just a reference point.

Guarding a children's hospital, grenade attack, four wounded as well

So they're expending force in a series of revenge attacks. Good. I'll only become concerned if the level of intensity not only remains like this but increases. This isn't even a war yet by any standard.

Definitely revenge attacks, though--who else but Hussein clanners would attack a Children's Hospital during a guerrilla war? That is not exactly a way to win over the populace, which is necessary for success in one.

[Vympel]

I read in the paper today, iirc, that there are fewer attacks, but they are getting deadlier, and more complex: timing devices and long det cords are being favored over sniper and martyr type attacks.

I guess they think it's better for them to try and take out more than one or two soldiers in one go-imagine the effect of an attack where a dozen or more soldiers are killed in one fell swoop. Probabilities tell us that's a matter of when, not if.

Looking at some recent interviews/pictures of some of these Iraqi guerillas, I see that they have Bulgarian-manufacture 40mm OG-7V frag rounds (the indigenous Russian OG-7V is more pointy) for their RPGs- more efficient for killing men- and plenty effective against Hummers and trucks. Seems they're not bothering to try for hits on M1/M2s- unless it's a sniper going for someone with their head sticking out of the hatch.

Frag



HEAT (also on an Iraqi)

[Vympel]

So they're expending force in a series of revenge attacks. Good.

It would help if they were actually getting killed. They always seem to get away clean.

I'll only become concerned if the level of intensity not only remains like this but increases. This isn't even a war yet by any standard.

Definitely revenge attacks, though--who else but Hussein clanners would attack a Children's Hospital during a guerrilla war? That is not exactly a way to win over the populace, which is necessary for success in one.

US soldiers were being treated in the hospital, that's why they were guarding it.

[Shinova]

So they're expending force in a series of revenge attacks. Good. I'll only become concerned if the level of intensity not only remains like this but increases. This isn't even a war yet by any standard.

Definitely revenge attacks, though--who else but Hussein clanners would attack a Children's Hospital during a guerrilla war? That is not exactly a way to win over the populace, which is necessary for success in one.

I think it might be the other way. The Iraqi populace will bash the US troops for not stopping the attack, saying that the troops should've been able to stop them or something like that. Who knows.

[Durandal]

Hey, Bush said, "Bring 'em on," after all. I guess he's just getting what he wanted.

[jegs2]

Don't think we'll ever see the end of all attacks on US soldiers. If nothing else, Iraq is surrounded by Islamist nations hostile to our interests, who are more than willing to funnel in arms, ammunition, fighters, and the like. Moreover, those who used to weild power in Iraq suddenly find themselves blacklisted or worse, hunted, so they've little to nothing to lose by attacking US soldiers. In all conflicts, guerilla fighters have the upper hand, because they're fighting in their own land, among their own, or similar, people, and they retain the intitiative on when and where to strike. That they don't wear uniforms that say, "Here I am -- shoot me!" helps too. We can only hope to minimize their impact by winning over the population of Iraq, but that is a tall order...

[Howedar]

Israel doesn't suffer these sorts of attacks from the Palestinians, do they?

[jegs2]

Israel doesn't suffer these sorts of attacks from the Palestinians, do they?

Sure they do. Suicide bombers have taken a heafty toll...

[The Duchess of Zeon]

It would help if they were actually getting killed. They always seem to get away clean.

We can't really be sure of that, as it is a pretty common tactic of guerrilla forces to hide their casualties when possible. If you're relying on bodies left behind then it might be impossible to confirm if they carry off the wounded and dead, unless said are in a position where they can't do so. Furthermore, their wounded might die from lack of medical treatment as long as we deny hospitals to them, meaning that even inflicting minor wounds on attackers can, after a few weeks, cause fatalities.

US soldiers were being treated in the hospital, that's why they were guarding it.

It would be nice to have some confirmation from that more than the nearby witnesses, who might be going on a rumour, particularly one spread by the attackers themselves. Unfortunately, if such a rumour is successful with the majority of people it might indeed have the desired effect of making the U.S. seem callous. And if U.S. troops were being treated in that hospital, I do have to wonder why--do we really need Iraqi medical facilities, particularly those intended for children?

Of course, it may have simply been the nearest hospital for some critically wounded personnel. But then the entire operation might have been staged as propaganda value, certainly in line with the general modus operendi of guerrilla tactics. Unfortunately, now I doth speculate to much.

[Vympel]

Israel doesn't suffer these sorts of attacks from the Palestinians, do they?

Palestinians are extremely poorly armed- Iraq had some 30 years with which to build up massive stocks of small arms, ammunition, and most importantly RPGs. Not to mention the long borders, especially with Syria and Iran, would be extremely easy to smuggle in new weapons, should they ever be required. Stopping arms going to Palestinians is much easier. An RPG is great for a guerilla attack- you have, at maximum, 500m to play with- though more typically you'd be firing at under half that if you want to hit the target dead on (firing an RPG is hard if you're untrained, but after some training remarkable feats of accuracy can be achieved). Or you could take advantage of the self destruct time and volley fire a swarm of them from up to 800-900m away- el cheapo artillery.

[jegs2]

...also keep in mind that the street-price for an RPG-7 with three warheads is usually between one and three US dollars, so there is no shortage of those...

[jegs2]

...also keep in mind that the street-price for an RPG-7 with three warheads is usually between one and three US dollars, so there is no shortage of those...

eh ... meant to say, "between one and five dollars...

Dang lack of edit feature...

[Vympel]

...also keep in mind that the street-price for an RPG-7 with three warheads is usually between one and three US dollars, so there is no shortage of those...

eh ... meant to say, "between one and five dollars...

Dang lack of edit feature...

Heh huge difference. Buyer's market indeed ...

[Howedar]

Israel doesn't suffer these sorts of attacks from the Palestinians, do they?

Sure they do. Suicide bombers have taken a heafty toll...

Yeah, the thing about a suicide bomber is that they die.

[jegs2]

Sure they do. Suicide bombers have taken a heafty toll...

Yeah, the thing about a suicide bomber is that they die.[/quote]

Quite true, but most actual sucide bombers are recruited at the last minute and have no knowledge of the organization that hires them. It's a very effective terrorist cell structure and extremely difficult to trace or stop. Just tell the suicide bomber that their path to Paradise is guaranteed if they carry out the deed and their familily will be taken car of financially...

[jegs2]

Agh, that looked awful. I really must lay off the Rum & Coke for tonight.


... and my wife wants me to come to bed, so I'd better do as she says...

[SPOOFE]

One to two deaths per day? Damn, sign me up, I'm tired of the hundreds of deaths everyday in the US.

[Vympel]

It just became 5 deaths in one 24 hour period- a Marine from the 1st MEU was killed in another grenade attack.

When they say 'grenade', I wonder if they mean RPG, or just grenade.

[HemlockGrey]

eh ... meant to say, "between one and five dollars...

So what's to keep the US from buying them up for $50 an RPG? Surely they could afford that.

[Sea Skimmer]

It just became 5 deaths in one 24 hour period- a Marine from the 1st MEU was killed in another grenade attack.

When they say 'grenade', I wonder if they mean RPG, or just grenade.

The media seem to have gotten smart enough to tell the two apart. A big step forward for them.

[Sea Skimmer]

eh ... meant to say, "between one and five dollars...

So what's to keep the US from buying them up for $50 an RPG? Surely they could afford that.

The fact that the arms dealers would shoot at us and or run, and the fact that the Soviets alone easily produced 50 million rounds for them.