OPERATION WHACK-A-MOLE CONTINUES

It looks like many of the insurgents who aren't laying low have moved into Diyala province. It also looks like the Iraq Army is still poorly run and we are losing more "hearts and minds."

SOURCE:
Lexis-Nexis
SHOW: Morning Edition 10:00 AM EST
March 21, 2007 Wednesday
HEADLINE: U.S., Iraqi Forces Target Diyala Insurgents
ANCHORS: RENEE MONTAGNE

JAMIE TARABAY: The road to Shakarat, just outside Muqdadiyah is pocketed with craters from roadside bombs. Cars approaching a U.S. military convoy teeter precariously to the left side of the road, almost falling into the pungent ditch. Shakarat and most of Diyala province is home to Iraq's most fertile land. Towns are squeezed between dense clusters of palm groves and snaking canals. Captain Eric Philips, from the 293rd MP company, said it's also the terrain of bomb-making Sunni insurgents.

Captain ERIC PHILIPS (U.S. Army): IEDs in our stretch? Daily, I think we see about one a day on this road in this little stretch. We either find it or get hit by it. I've had several trucks have the doors blown up and had to go get replaced on this road.

[snip]

TARABAY: The military, both U.S. and Iraqi, intends to stay. They've taken over homes along the main road and offered compensation to the owners. One of their main outposts happens to be the nicest and biggest house in the street, as Lieutenant Sterling acknowledges.

Lt. STALLINGS: It is the key house in this town. It's the tallest building and, unfortunately for the family, it's almost brand new.

TARABAY: But the owner has yet to be compensated. One of the sons, a burly man named Mahmoud(ph) wearing a long gray tunic under a windcheecher(ph), folds his hands over his stomach as he listens to Sterling explain why the family hasn't received any money yet.

[snip]

TARABAY: Sterling is surrounded by questions from the locals. He is not helped by a short Iraqi soldier at his elbow asking how much longer the Iraqi army has to stay in Shakarat. The soldier complains he's working 12-hour shifts, hasn't had time off, and hasn't been paid. Sterling becomes frustrated.

Lt. STALLINGS: We're going to be here as long as we need to be to secure the people of Iraq. You need to talk to your chain of command, your commander, your platoon leader, your (foreign language spoken), ask them these questions, not me. I only run the American part of the things. Your commander runs the Iraqi part of things.

TARABAY: Nearby, Fadhil Kadhmi, with the help of three men, gingerly lift his yellow friend shopping stall, disposable razors dancing from one rung. He wants the U.S. military to allow cars over the bridge again so he can sell his crops to buyers coming from other parts of the country.

Mr. FADHIL KADHMI: (Through translator) We have no connection with the insurgents. We don't know who they are or where they come from. This operation is for them, but it's been six days and we have nothing left to eat.