http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/03/operative-swarmer-revealed-to-be.html

"Operative Swarmer" revealed to be nothing more than a media stunt

by John in DC

3/17/2006

Gee, what a surprise.

George Bush used our soldiers in harm's way as a publicity stunt, yet
spun it to the American people as a real all-out attack, biggest since
the war began, they told us.

The man is an incompetent liar.

His strategy on Iraq is to lie to the American people repeatedly until
you believe him, simply because he's tricked you.

The man is dangerous.

From Chris Albritton of TIME, someone I met last summer, a fascinating
guy:
http://www.back-to-iraq.com/archives/2006/03/operation_overblown.php


"Operation Swarmer" is really a media show.

It was designed to show off the new Iraqi Army -- although there was
no enemy for them to fight.

Every American official I've heard has emphasized the role of the
Iraqi forces just days before the third anniversary of the start of
the war.

That said, one Iraqi role the military will start highlighting in the
next few days, I imagine, is that of Iraqi intelligence.

It was intel from the Iraqi military intelligence and interior
ministry that the U.S. says prompted this Potemkin operation.

And it will be the Iraqi intel that provides the cover for American
military commanders to throw up their hands and say, "well, we thought
bad guys were there."

It's hard to blame the military, however.

Stations like Fox and CNN have really taken this and ran with it, with
fancy graphics and theme music.

The generals here also are under tremendous pressure to show off some
functioning Iraqi troops before the third anniversary, and I won't
fault them for going into a region loaded for bear.

After all, the Iraqi intelligence might have been right!

But Operation Overblown should raise serious questions about how good
Iraqi intelligence is.

I can't tell you how many times I've been told by earnest lieutenants
that the Iraqis are valiant and necessary partners, "because they know
the area, the people and the customs."

But when I spoke to grunts and NCOs, however, they usually gave me
blunter -- and more colorful -- reasons why the Iraqi intelligence was
often, shall we say, useless.

Tribal rivalries and personal feuds are still a major why Iraqis drop
a dime on their neighbors.

So I guess it's fitting that on the eve of the third anniversary of a
war launched on -- oh, let's be generous -- "faulty" intelligence, a
major operation is hyped and then turns out to be less than what it
appeared because of -- faulty intelligence.

____________________________________________________

I'm sure were not fooled by this obvious Rovian episode. It's
unfortunate that our troops have become pawns in this criminal bunch's
political games.

Harry