Winter in Hell

Elections in Iraq are less than two months away, and despite calls from Sunni groups to postpone them, Iraq’s Sunni President Ghazi al-Yawer has thrown his support behind the scheduled date of January 30th. Media negativity and spin continues to be presented with regards to Iraq and Afghanistan, including the increase in American troop strength during upcoming elections, the likelihood of failure of the upcoming election in Iraq, comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam, and the rise in opium production in Afghanistan. The successes in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere are glossed over as they do not adhere to the mainstream media’s narrative of failure.

Here’s the story you are missing.

In Iraq, Coalition forces continue to root out insurgent forces in the Sunni Triangle, the Triangle of Death, Mosul and along the Syrian border. Iraqi forces have taken the lead in the operations and are being supported by American troops. Patrols and raids are netting enemy fighters, weapons stockpiles and intelligence, which lead to follow up strikes, more arrested insurgents and yet more intelligence. It’s a vicious cycle – if you’re an Islamofascist.

(Bi’aj) Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 53 people suspected of anti-Iraqi activities during operations yesterday in northern Iraq…(South of Baghdad) Iraqi and U.S. forces rounded up 32 suspected anti-Iraqi militants and uncovered a stockpile of more than 500 artillery rounds in heavy activity south of Baghdad Nov. 27… detained five individuals in a raid near Musayyib… Marines captured 21 suspects in two separate raids near Lutafiyah and five more in a pair of raids near Haswah… Marines attacked by a roadside bomb southwest of Lutafiyah chased down two suspected attackers, killing one, capturing another… (Fallujah) Marines and Sailors of MEU Service Support Group-31 of the I Marine Expeditionary Force continue to dispose of weapons caches — a voluminous amount of weapons, ordnance and bomb-making materials… (Mosul, Tal Afar) Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 24… Soldiers from the Iraqi National Guard with the support of MNF from the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, conducted a joint cordon and search operation in Tal Afar and detained 14 Soldiers detained 10 suspects and confiscated a large sum of U.S. currency… (Tikrit) First Infantry Division Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment detained eight suspected anti-Iraqi forces near Ad Duluiyah following an attack on their combat patrol… (Babil province) Iraqi and U.S. forces rounded up 32 suspected anti-Iraqi militants and uncovered a stockpile… Iraqi national guardsmen, backed by elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, detained five individuals in a raid… Marines captured 21 suspects in two separate raids near Lutafiyah and five more in a pair of raids near Haswah… Marines attacked by a roadside bomb southwest of Lutafiyah chased down two suspected attackers, killing one, capturing another…

The Sunni Triangle is not a No Go zone. The insurgency cannot deny Coalition forces from operating at will, at the time and place of their choosing. The cooperation between American and Iraqi forces continues and the Iraqis are continually learning to fight and operate on their own.

The situation in Najaf highlights this point. Last August and September, Christopher Allbritton, a freelance reporter in his blog Back to Iraq, predicted nothing but Doom and Gloom^TM concerning operations in Najaf against Shi’ite upstart cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (browse the Archives from August to get a feel for his slant on the story). His reporting was indicative of the defeatist western media: American actions would inflame a Shi’ite rebellion, the rebellion is spreading, Iraqi forces are incompetent, etc.

Recent news from Najaf belies the narrative of failure in the southern Shi’ite regions. Iraqi Security Forces have taken over full responsibility for security in the Najaf province.

Approximately three months after decisive combat operations ended in Najaf, the 11th MEU commander declared today that Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) have formally assumed local control of An Najaf province.

Since fighting ended Aug. 28, no major incidents have occurred despite reduced MEU security operations in the city and the Ramadan holiday.

With little to no MEU oversight, Najaf’s ISF have demonstrated their ability to respond and take control of threats to the province’s stability, as well as plan, direct and conduct limited security operations. Iraqi police and national guardsmen have conducted several successful raids using intelligence compiled on their own, netting several insurgents and criminals. Iraqi border enforcement officials continue to effectively work the borders, stopping several illegal crossings and narcotics trafficking.

Christopher Allbritton or the mainstream media could not be reached for comment.

In Afghanistan, Afghan and American forces prepare for a winter offensive to keep the Taliban remnants off balance.

[Maj. Gen. Eric] Olson said the offensive — which will cover the entire U.S.-led force of about 18,000 — would attempt to disturb militants in their “winter sanctuaries” so that they will be in no shape to move against the parliamentary vote slated for April. The military will be “attempting to attack him in those sanctuaries while he’s resting and refitting, staging and planning,” said Olson, the operational commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

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To reinforce the frontier, Olson said the U.S. military would establish several new camps close to the border. He said Afghan forces would also reposition “along and astride” routes used by militants. And he promised to strengthen cooperation with Pakistani forces across the border.

The Islamofascist enemy is given no respite. As the enemy losses continue to mount, they continue to lose ground to the juggernaut arrayed against them, and their ideology provides nothing but failure after abject failure. They will continue to lash out in deadly yet futile ways. Kidnappings, beheadings, suicide and roadside bombs may give the illusion of success, but are failing to produce the desired results: a retreat of American forces from the Middle East and preventing the establishment of democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Winter fighting in the Sunni Triangle and the Hindu Kush may be akin to Hell, but only if you’re an Islamofascist.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.