Are you kidding me?

The trenches will win the war

Iraq to Dig Trenches Around Baghdad

By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press Writer

Friday, September 15, 2006

(09-15) 09:34 PDT BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) --

Iraqi security forces will dig trenches around Baghdad and set up checkpoints along all roads leading into the city to reduce some of the violence plaguing the capital, the Interior Ministry said Friday.

To help halt that bloodshed, more U.S. troops have been shifted to Baghdad from the insurgent stronghold of Anbar province, a senior U.S. commander said.
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The security plan, known as Operation Together Forward, began June 15 and is being implemented in three phases. The first phase included setting up random checkpoints around the city, phase two began Aug. 7 and focused on the most violence-prone areas of Baghdad — mostly the Sunni Arab southern districts. Phase three reportedly includes cordoning off and searching other parts of Baghdad, including predominantly Shiite areas.

Khalaf said that except for the trenches, vehicle and pedestrian traffic would be restricted to just 28 entry points with manned checkpoints.

"We will leave only 28 inlets to Baghdad while all other inlets will be blocked. Supports will be added to the trenches to hinder the movements of people and vehicles. The trenches will be under our watch," he said.

He did not have any details, but did say that there would be no concrete walls or razor wire. Khalaf also did not know how deep or wide the trenches would be.

"They will surround Baghdad," he said of the trenches.

Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, a senior U.S. commander, said U.S. troops were shifted from Anbar province to Baghdad because quelling sectarian violence in the capital is a higher priority.

There's 5 to 7 million people in Baghdad. How the fuck are you going to have only 28 checkpoints?

Oh, and aren't we losing in Anbar province?