Other than Joe Lieberman, virtually no Democrat is willing to step up and admit the truth that the war is going well, democracy is advancing in Iraq and the middle east, and Osama Bin Laden et al are on the run and in hiding.

Isn’t it rather amazing that the fact that Iraqi CIVILIANS captured and turned over to US and Iraqi Security forces one of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi’s top lieutenants in Ramadi today is getting almost no play in the MSM? Isn’t that a rather solid indication that the Iraqi populace does NOT support the terrorists? There have also been indications that some of the Iraqi opposition groups have offered to hunt down and turn Zarqawi over to the Iraqi government for certain considerations. There have been repeated calls from Bin Laden to the groups to all cooperate rather than pursue their separate agendas. How would the MSM spin it if an Iraqi opposition group turned Zarqawi and a bunch of his followers over to the Iraqi Security forces in exchange for amnesty? Why do I feel that the headline would be ” Bin Laden still at large despite Zarqawi capture.” ?

Any tactical entry team leader who has had ANY training will tell you that the preferred time to execute a raid against a building believed to be housing armed hostiles is between 3 and 5 am. There are a number of reasons for this. At that time of night the ambient light level is at its lowest level, i.e. it’s darker so it’s harder for them to see you coming. At that time of the night/morning most sentries will be their least attentive and anyone sleeping will be in the deepest stages of their sleep cycle. Both of these help to increase the probability of surprise. So yes, US Military members conducting tactical raids are most likely going to conduct them in the middle of the night. It’s safer for them to do so. As for them terrorizing Iraqi women and children, go back to the idea that this is a tactical raid. Any raid leader (check with the local SWAT team) with any training will tell you when entering a hostile dwelling with limited intelligence, all occupants are to be treated as hostile. The rapid deployment and threat of use of deadly force is necessary to discourage someone from doing something other than cooperating. Hardened terrorists tend to be a lot more compliant when they are awoken suddenly by the muzzle of an M4 carbine being shoved into their face. Also if the raider is close enough to make contact before the subject becomes fully aware of what’s going on, Non lethal force ( a butt stroke to the head)can be used and the probability of the subject using a weapon is reduced as well. Therefore, by conducting lightning fast raids with rapid deployment of overwhelming violence in the wee hours of the morning not only reduces the probability of injury to the soldiers conducting it, but also to the subjects being arrested.

As for the comment that the Iraqis should be the one’s conducting these raids, that’s not how it works either. These types of raids require a heightened level of training and experience normally only present in advanced units such as Ranger, Special Forces, or Seal units. While lesser trained forces can conduct such operations, the lack of experience of the soldiers involved will almost certainly result in more not fewer deaths and injuries.

So Yes, technically US Soldiers are dragging Iraqi Women and children out of their beds in the middle of the night and scaring them witless. It is the safest way (for everyone involved) for them to conduct tactical raids on dwellings potentially housing armed hostiles. But who is it that is hiding amongst women and children and placing them in harms’ way to begin with? If scaring a few Iraqi women and kids helps bring an end to Zarquawi et al’s terror networks, then line them up and I’ll see how many I can scare. Of course seeing as I’m not likely to throw anyone into a wood chipper, I’m not so sure I could scare some of these women.

I think there are some people in this country who should be charged with treason. Disagreement and freedom of speech is one thing but let’s face it, something like this or H. Dean’s statement about the U.S. not winning or J. Kerry’s calling our troops terrorists is this close to treason.

I am very tired of people like you, arcane, who run your mouth off and then disavow the results and consequences of your mouthings. This kid was probably brainwashed by the Teacher and maybe his parents into such a mental state. The fact the teacher let this card go shows how bankrupt liberal union goon teachers have become. They can’t teach Miguel how to read and write properly, but they sure can teach Miguel how to spit on the troops and the country.

As best as I can transcribe:

Dear Soldier,

Have a great time in the war and have a great time dieing in the war.

from,

Schilen, Miguel

P.S. DIE

Arcane, I did put a link in a lower post about Dean saying we can’t win in Iraq. The link takes you to Michelle Malkins site which has a picture where you can see and read the card for yourself.