Al Qaeda in Iraq's shrinking area of operations

From Bill Roggio at the Long War Journal.

Nearly one year to the day of the announcement of the "surge" of US forces to Iraq and the change in counterinsurgency plan, Iraqi and Coalition forces have shrunk al Qaeda's ability to conduct operations inside Iraq, a senior US commander said. During a press briefing in Baghdad, Lieutenant General Ray Odierno, the Commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, said al Qaeda in Iraq has been ejected from its strongholds in the cities to the rural regions of Iraq.

It is interesting to see the areas where Al Qaeda has lost influence in the year since the surge was announce. It is quite significant.

For a full read, click here.

The Long War Journal Roll Up of Incidents in Pakistan

From Bill Roggio at the Long War Journal regarding the claim that Pakistan killed 90 militants.

The fighting in South Waziristan continues for the third straight day. The military estimated over 90 Taliban were killed after ambushing a convoy and assaulting a fort. Both engagements were initiated by the Taliban.

What Mr. Roggio disputes is not the 90 militants killed but the unbalanced nature of the deaths.

While the incidents are more than common in Pakistan's tribal agencies of North and South Waziristan, the unbalanced casualties are not. The Pakistani military claimed only four wounded while claiming to inflict 90 kills on the Pakistani forces. Pakistani troops, particularly the paramilitary Frontier Corps stationed in the region, have suffered high casualties during engagements with the Taliban.

As always, Mr. Roggio expresses the facts for others to ponder.

For a full read, click here.