CNN.com has a clearer picture of how six of the seven marines who recently died were killed.

Insurgents attacked a group of Marines patrolling on foot outside Haditha on Monday, the Marine Corps said in a written statement. Five died in the initial attack, and the body of a sixth was discovered later a few kilometers away. All were killed by small-arms fire, the Marines said.

No further information was released about the gun battle.

Remember, these are the same insurgents who were crippled earlier in the summer and late fall. These are the same insurgents who our military and the Bush PR machine claimed were unable of conducting sophisticated operations. And keep in mind that there have been two major anti-insurgency sweeps since January along with a third operation that “cleaned” out insurgents between Haditha and Hit on the Euphrates. It seems to me, ambushing and killing a marine patrol with small arms fire is evidence of a fairly high level of sophistication. These insurgents didn't rely on remotely detonated bombs, didn't rely on suicide bombers, but were well trained and equipped. They were able to stand toe to toe with U.S. Marines and inflict fairly heavy casualties. This is not something an insurgency on its last legs or incapable of exerting command and control is able to do. It's clear that we've made precious little progress in disrupting the insurgency and its ability to recruit, retain, and train fighters.

Come Aug. 15th the Bush PR machine will make a lot of noise (in fact it’s already doing so) about the progress we and the Iraqis are making. Like all the earlier claims about progress in Iraq, these claims will be more fantasy than reality.

posted by Idle Crank at 8/02/2005 04:53:00 PM