Thursday, June 23, 2005
Military RhetIraq: US 42nd Infantry
Who: Major General Joseph Taluto (commander of the 42nd Infantry Division)
Source: Boston Globe and GulfNews.com (Article entitled, "'Good and honest' Iraqis fighting US forces")
Quotes:
BOSTON GLOBE:
Taluto acknowledged that the Iraqis suffered from a lack of equipment and manpower, but he predicted that, at least in his area of operation, the US military would meet its goal of having battalion-level units operating independently by the fall.
''I can tell you, making assessments, I think we're on target," Taluto said in an interview.
GULFNEWS.COM
"If a good, honest person feels having all these Humvees driving on the road, having us moving people out of the way, having us patrol the streets, having car bombs going off, you can understand how they could [want to fight us]."
"There is a sense of a good resistance, or an accepted resistance. They say 'okay, if you shoot a coalition soldier, that's okay, it's not a bad thing but you shouldn't kill other Iraqis.'"
"I think there is a small core of foreign fighters. I don't know how big that is but there is some kind of capability here, and it's being replenished.
"Then there is a group of former regime personnel they're the facilitators. They make all the communications, move the money, they enable things to happen. Their goal isn't the same as the foreign fighters but they're using them to do what they want to do.
"Then we have the foot soldiers. Some are doing it for the money. Some are doing it because they're offended by our presence and believe we are a threat to their way of life. There are various levels."
He added: "Who knows how big these networks are, or how widespread? I know it's substantial enough to be a threat to the government and it will be for some time."
General Taluto said "99.9 per cent" of those captured fighting the US were Iraqis, but was also adamant most people in Iraq wanted a free, democratic and independent country.
Source: Boston Globe and GulfNews.com (Article entitled, "'Good and honest' Iraqis fighting US forces")
Quotes:
BOSTON GLOBE:
Taluto acknowledged that the Iraqis suffered from a lack of equipment and manpower, but he predicted that, at least in his area of operation, the US military would meet its goal of having battalion-level units operating independently by the fall.
''I can tell you, making assessments, I think we're on target," Taluto said in an interview.
GULFNEWS.COM
"If a good, honest person feels having all these Humvees driving on the road, having us moving people out of the way, having us patrol the streets, having car bombs going off, you can understand how they could [want to fight us]."
"There is a sense of a good resistance, or an accepted resistance. They say 'okay, if you shoot a coalition soldier, that's okay, it's not a bad thing but you shouldn't kill other Iraqis.'"
"I think there is a small core of foreign fighters. I don't know how big that is but there is some kind of capability here, and it's being replenished.
"Then there is a group of former regime personnel they're the facilitators. They make all the communications, move the money, they enable things to happen. Their goal isn't the same as the foreign fighters but they're using them to do what they want to do.
"Then we have the foot soldiers. Some are doing it for the money. Some are doing it because they're offended by our presence and believe we are a threat to their way of life. There are various levels."
He added: "Who knows how big these networks are, or how widespread? I know it's substantial enough to be a threat to the government and it will be for some time."
General Taluto said "99.9 per cent" of those captured fighting the US were Iraqis, but was also adamant most people in Iraq wanted a free, democratic and independent country.
