Compare and contrast...

[mrph]

Two statements (from the BBC) regarding the Iraqi city of Falluja:

Today: The US military says it has been targeting supporters of Zarqawi. It says Falluja has become a militant stronghold since security in the city was passed to a local security force commanded by officers from ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's army in April.

May 4th: A new Iraqi military force taking control of the restive city of Falluja is beginning to restore order, a senior US marine officer has said. The Iraqi force moving into Falluja consists of about 1,100 men and is to be led by one of Saddam Hussein's former generals, Muhammad Abdul-Latif.

So... it's been a "militant stronghold" since the local security force took over, has it? Looks more like it's always been one - and looks like that's why the US military were only too keen to hand it over to Iraqi forces... which is not quite the same thing...

Comments

[deeply-spurious.livejournal.com]

Either way, though, they are admitting that they messed it up... afterall, who took the decision to hand over control to said Iraqi forces?

Off topic!

[liz-lowlife.livejournal.com]

I need your E mail address urgently so I can send you that interview!

:o)

[zarbi.livejournal.com]

Last week I read a report in New Scientist from someone who had experience of Saddam's torture chambers. It took me a while to recover from the experience.

No matter what the stupid motives of the US, no matter how they have screwed up (a lot!), at least the screams of the children tortured to extract confessions from parents have gone quiet. At least the whine of the drills that were used in ways too sickening to mention have stopped. As a member of Amnesty International, I think this is a good thing..