30,000 Iraqi Troops + 10,000 American Troops Prepare To Exterminate Al Qaeda

On August 1, 2008 we may just see the beginning of the end of al Qaeda in Iraq. We have talked about it many times that what pretty much remains of al Qaeda in Iraq has been holed up in Diyala province and that is exactly where the new operation will strike on August 1st. Just the thought of 40,000 troops sweeping through Diyala and cutting al Qaeda into shreds has got me smiling ear to ear. Here's some of the story on this huge operation from The Telegraph:

Iraq was today massing 30,000 troops in advance of an assault on one of al-Qaeda's surviving strongholds that will be a litmus test of the country's growing security forces

Officials said a major clearing operation of the troubled central province of Diyala would be launched on Aug 1, spearheaded by Iraqi army and police personnel and backed by 10,000 American troops. If successful the operation will add to an impressive run of victories for the security strategy of the prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.
On his initiative, the country's army has made major inroads in militia-controlled Basra and eastern Baghdad this year. The al-Qaeda presence in Mosul has been significantly eroded by operations overseen by a well-regarded local commander, General Riyadh Tawfeeq.

Now, while the numbers of troops are staggering, this still won't be a cake walk in that Diyala is a complex province not only from the extreme mixture of Sunnis, Shias, Kurds and Christians but because of the terrain. Diyala is one of the most fertile regions of Iraq and contains huge orchards of dates, etc. Al Qaeda has a helluva lot more hiding places in Diyala than they did in Mosul.

What will be interesting to see is if the Iraqis and Americans will allow the al Qaeda jihadists an escape route into Iran. And it will also be interesting to see if al Qaeda has sniffed the winds and has tried to do some of their escape early as they did in the last operation in Diyala. I would have to say that the U.S. has made the preparations to seal Diyala best they can before this word got out.

This is more than likely going to be a blood bath, folks. Unfortunately, I think we are going to see some serious casualties come to our troops and the Iraqis because of the length of time that al Qaeda has had to booby trap hundreds of roads and buildings. It will depend a lot on how liberal we can be with air support in this operation.

But believe me, this could seal the book on the War in Iraq. It could be over. Very soon.

Thousands of Iraqi troops to drive out al-Qaeda

Diyala is often described as a microcosm of Iraq with significant tensions between settled ethnic and sectarian populations. In addition its terrain ranges from mountains to densely vegetated river valleys criss-crossed with rat-runs for terrorist groups. It is also a major conduit for Iranian arms and supplies to Shia militias.
"Diyala remains the most dangerous province in Iraq," said Colonel Ali al-Karkhi, an Iraqi officer in the province.
"But understand that it is a mini-Iraq. There are Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Christians. The other provinces are far less mixed which is why it is so difficult to restore peace here. It is also the reason why people are so extremist."
Pro-government irregular forces have been established throughout the province but often these village guardians have borne the brunt of attacks by terrorist groups. A tractor laden with explosives killed seven members of a local patrol in the village of Wais on Monday.
Female suicide bombers have carried out nine deadly attacks in the province this year. To counter the tactic, the government has formed an all-women Daughters of Iraq contingents to guard public venues in disputed villages.
Three-quarters of a group of 130 women employed in towns in the Diyala River Valley are widows of police officers killed in terrorist attacks. The unarmed women will be tasked with frisking their female neighbours.
"In Iraqi culture it is very difficult to search women," said Captain Charles Knoll, the American commander overseeing the project. "We had to find a way to fill this gap."
If successful the assault on Diyala will strengthen Mr Maliki's hand in negotiations with the US over its troop strength in Iraq. He has announced that the American military should be withdrawn to barracks by 2010.
As its combat role is wound up, American army deployments to Iraq will be reduced dramatically.