U.S. Forces Girding for Raids by Iraqis

WASHINGTON, July 11 — American intelligence agencies are warning of a possible new wave of attacks against United States forces in Iraq during the next week to coincide with anniversaries tied to Saddam Hussein and the Baath Party, military officials said today.

The anniversaries include July 14, the date of the 1958 coup against the British-backed monarchy, which is celebrated as Iraq's National Day; July 16, the date that Mr. Hussein took power in 1979; and July 17, the date of the Baath Party revolution in 1968.

While stopping short of saying the guerrilla attacks on Americans were centrally orchestrated, the officials said the intelligence agencies were edging closer to a view that they were being coordinated at least at a regional level.

American commanders have made clear in the past that they intend to counter such attacks with aggressive military operations aimed at former Baath Party and paramilitary leaders who are believed to be leading the resistance.

Military officials refused today to discuss any future operations, but they said no one should be surprised if concern over possible new attacks prompted new American military action. "We see a heightened period ahead in which the groups who are out there will try to convince others to carry out attacks," one military official said.

NYT 7-12-03

This is never going to end.

<While stopping short of saying the guerrilla attacks on Americans were centrally orchestrated, the officials said the intelligence agencies were edging closer to a view that they were being coordinated at least at a regional level.>

These idiots don't have a clue. I guess no one in the government ever read a book on Arab history. Where do they think power comes from in Iraq?