« What Is Important to Know about MesopotamiaNo Comment »

Little Tet

Al-Qaeda announces its Ramadan offensive.  No indication as yet al-Qaeda is capable of a Tet, but an indication they may be trying.   

The great al-Qaeda Ramadan offensive is coming a little late, and thus far too little.  It needed to be timed to embarrass Petraeus, and provide ammunition for al-Qaeda’s would-be enablers in Congress. So far, a few attacks repelled by villagers and Iraqi forces, and sporadic car bombings only serve to underscore al-Qaeda’s weakness and politically could be counterproductive.

The Tet Offensive, Vietnamese New Year 1968, was a massive onslaught that failed militarily, as tens of thousands of Viet Cong and NVA regulars were slaughtered, dealing a devastating setback to Communist forces.  But Tet was an utter success.  Because the temporary taking of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, and the days of seige around the country and the monthlong battle of Hue shocked Americans into thinking it was a lost cause.  So, not a single Communist guerrilla or North Vietnamese soldier was wasted. 

Al-Qaeda’s Tet is off to a slow start, and while we may well see more attacks on lightly armed villagers and bombs in marketplaces … maybe even the fluke of successful blows at some high-value command or political target, it is highly unlikely al-Qaeda is capable of anything approaching the shock of Tet.  Al-Qaeda instead arrives at Ramadan severely diminished and scattered by the coalition’s spring and summer offensives, a success tragically underscored by al-Qaeda’s murderous strike on the Yazdis in new, distant territory.

Ironically, Al-Qaeda in the runup to Ramadan 2007 might have been seen to be well ahead of Hanoi pre-Tet 1968 in its campaign to collapse America’s weak political flanks.  But with the turning of the Sunni tribes and Shiite tribes now now following suit, with the turning of some Democrats and established impotence of the others, it would appear that al-Qaeda’s Vietnam moment has passed. 

One potential complication.  Will Iran and the extremist Shiite militias, now under threat from the world and the United States in the case of Iran, and from the Shiite tribes in Iraq, attempt their own Ramadan offensive to coincide with al-Qaeda’s? 

That could be a wonderful opportunity to kill a lot of them, the opportunity that was passed up in Najaf 2004, and a dangerous tack for Iran, whose cynical, murderous game of support for terrorism and quest for nuclear weapons is wearing thin even in Europe.  Such a move may well backfire within Iraq as well, providing momentum for the turning of Shiite tribes that is already beginning, and given the new clarity with which the conflict is being viewed of some of Iraq’s traditional power bases, potentially creating more Sunni-Shiite unity than it destroys.

A Iraqi Tet in 2007, lacking the wherewithal to succeed militarily, may have already failed politically.  Instead of creating the illusion of American military weakness, it is more likely to underscore coalition strength. 

Jawa cruelly mocks al-Qaeda: Hammer Time! 

Barnett at Hewitt does the numbers. They’re dropping.

Meanwhile, underscoring the point on the homefront, Roger L. Simon notes:

The propagandists at Xinhua say there were “tens of thousands” at the DC antiwar demonstration yesterday. The VOA says more like five thousand. However many people you agree showed up - the AP says “several” thousand - the number is pretty pathetic. In a country of three hundred million, if you can’t muster up even fifty thousand people against a war, the event is basically meaningless, barely even news.

Topics: Iraq, military

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 7:32 am on Monday, September 17, 2007

13 Responses to “Little Tet”

1. Theo Spark Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 8:19 am

   Ooops thought you wrote Little Tit. There again that would sum up Sadr.

2. Texas Bob Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 8:37 am

   I can almost hear Murfa, Reid, Pelosi and the gang praying to Satan for some serious attacks. How these people can generate more propaganda than Goebbels and still call themselves Americans may not be the ultimate hypocrisy, but it’s in the Top 10. The fact that ½ of America supports, let alone tolerates this aroma of treason is even more disturbing. I feel like I’m watching the fall of Rome.

3. The Thunder Run Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 11:08 am

   Web Reconnaissance for 09/17/2007

   A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often

4. RebeccaH Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 11:41 am

   sigh

   Ramadan again. One of the worst ideas ever conceived by the God-bothered.

5. Little Tet « The Van Der Galiën Gazette Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 12:00 pm

   [...] Sep 17th, 2007 by Michael van der Galiën Is Al Qaeda trying to copy / repeat what happened during the Vietnam War? If so, how’s it going with their plans? Jules Crittenden has more. [...]

6. Peregrine John Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 12:42 pm

   “What excellent fools religion makes of men!”
   - Sejanus (Sejanus, His Fall, Ben Jonson)

7. Vanguard of the Commentariat Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 2:51 pm

   No matter what the Al Qaeda “Tet” effort brings to the party or manages to accomplish, they will always have a shot at success if they have the western media on their side.

8. The_Real_JeffS Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 3:12 pm

   I’m with you, Texas Bob, I keep on wondering when the Dhimmicrats will pull out their fiddles.

9. CK MacLeod Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 4:12 pm

   The anti-war types don’t need a Tet. They don’t need actual events at all. Lately, they’re busily spreading around a pseudo-Lancet extrapolation claiming that 1 Million Iraqis have died since the invasion.

   Soon, they’ll have convinced themselves and some significant percentage of their media stooges that there’s no one left alive in Iraq at all, other than US troops that should come home lest zombies arise and strike them.

10. moose Says:
    September 17th, 2007 at 8:00 pm

    Jules,
    The VC never temporarely overtook the embassy. That is one of many Vietnam myths. Only two vc sappers got as far as the courtyard before they were killed. Not one vc set foot in the embassy.
    Do you know how many set piece battles we lost in Vietnam?

11. NoisyRoom.net » Blog Archive » Noisy News Around the Web - 09/17/2007… Says:
    September 17th, 2007 at 8:22 pm

    [...] Little Tet - Jules Crittenden [...]

12. saltydog Says:
    September 18th, 2007 at 12:58 am

    Texas Bob and TRJ, I understand the feeling. As hard as I try, I can’t shake the feeling that we are further down the road to decline than I had thought. (More than the reaction to the war) I’ve felt that way ever since Jon Carry got so close to the presidency. How did such a thing happen? How could it? There are valid reasons a person might be unhappy about the way the war is being fought. There are no valid reasons for that piece of fluff to garner the votes he did, no matter what. That so many couldn’t, wouldn’t, or otherwise didn’t see him for the zero he is tells me that we’ve gone further down the road to ruin than I thought.

    The danger with decline is that it is usually a slow, drawn out process that usually escapes the notice of most people. The majority of Romans didn’t know they were in mortal danger. If you don’t recognize what is happening, how do you define the problems and do what is necessary to rectify the situation?

    I am feeling better about what is happening among the Iraqis.

13. ExtremeCentre.org » Al Quaeda se prend une baffe en Irak: Blog Politique Francophone pour les Libertés Fondamentales et Contre Tous les Totalitarismes, qu'ils soient de Droite ou de Gauche Says:
    October 8th, 2007 at 6:55 pm

    [...] Actually first I’d like to recommend reading a good post by Jules Crittenden about the flawed timing of this “Little Tet. [...]

Leave a Reply

Trackback URL

You must be logged in to post a comment.

zoloft long distance running G Postmessage Propecia Smiley Post accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Lipitor Congestion lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Prozac And Men difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Clomid Steroids symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Canine Prednisone Side Effects prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Subaction Showcomments Propecia Optional Watch accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Order Propecia Online lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Penis Growth Pills difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Zoloft Paxil Differences symptoms of zoloft working!

cipro and std treatment,

Female Version Of Viagra prednisone stopped taking side effects;

cough and wheezing with lipitor;

U 3312 Viagra Cialis accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short G Postmessage Cialis Subject Online lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Accutane Before After difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Subaction Showcomments Cialis Archive Watch symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Alternatives To Zoloft prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Adding Prozac To Drinking Water accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Prozac And Percocet lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Propecia Baldness difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone And Mania symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prednisone 10 Mg prednisone stopped taking side effects;

difference between lexapro and celexa

Subaction Showcomments Cialis Smile Newest accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Side Effectts Of Cipro lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Zoloft And Lorazepam difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Diuretic Lasix symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prostatitis And Zithromax

prednisone stopped taking side effects;

cough and wheezing with lipitor; Medication And Prednisone accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Levitra Vs Viagra lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Generic Lexapro difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Query Lowest Cialis Price Online symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Buying Nolvadex prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa G Postmessage Propecia Subject Remember accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Get Off Prozac lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Cialis Vision difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone 20mg symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prozac Dose Side Effect prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Is Ultracet Addictive accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Nexium Canada lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Nexium Side Effects difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Cheapest Cialis symptoms of zoloft working!

cipro and std treatment,

Prozac Weight Gain prednisone stopped taking side effects; cough and wheezing with lipitor; Cheap Cialis accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Clomid Side Effects lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Treatment Of Ocd With Zoloft difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Levitra Side Effects symptoms of zoloft working! cipro and std treatment, What Is Prednisone Used For prednisone stopped taking side effects;

difference between lexapro and celexa

Accutane And Results accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Mexican Rx Cialis Low Price lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; G Postmessage Propecia Smiley Reply difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Purepac Prednisone symptoms of zoloft working!

cipro and std treatment,

Cialis Effect On Women prednisone stopped taking side effects; cough and wheezing with lipitor;

Prednisone Causes Cancer

accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Accutane Buy Canada Pharmacy lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Herbal Meds Compatible With Clomid difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prozac Suicide Class Action Lawsuit symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prednisone Without Prescription prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Cipro For Uti accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Zoloft Dosage lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Cipro Rem Sleep difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Lexapro Weight Gain symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Bad Side Effects Of Prednisone prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Esophageal Achalasia Swallowing Difficulties Nexium accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Prednisone Poison Oak lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Cialis Story difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Nexium Cost symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Cheap Generic Cialis prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Canine Prednisone accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Resting Heart Rate Lipitor lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Manufactor Of Prozac difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone Titration symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prozac And Weight Gain prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Nexium Rebate accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Zithromax Cost lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Prednisone For Dogs difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Cipro Dose Cat symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Symptoms Of Zoloft prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Alcohol And Zoloft accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Subaction Showcomments Cialis Thanks Newest lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Drug Interaction Prozac Sulfamethoxazol Trimethoprim difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Simcor Vs Lipitor symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Akathisia Zoloft prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Prednisone Homeopathic Replacement accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Zoloft Negative Side Effects lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Prednisone Homopathic Replacement difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Lasix Online symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Cialis Overnight prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Tadalafil Cialis From India accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Subaction Showcomments Cialis Thanks Watch lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Zoloft Generic difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Accutane Long Term Side Effects symptoms of zoloft working! get a prescription for propecia Zoloft Thin Blood prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Multiple Sclerosis Lipitor Bad Reaction accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Clomid Pdr lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Zoloft Akathisias difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Cipro Warnings symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Secret Side Effects Of Zoloft prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Prednisone And Blood Pressure accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! New Drug Cialis lipitor drug cost

prednisone stopped taking side effects;

Subaction Showcomments Propecia Archive Newest difference between lexapro and celexa prednisone menstrual cycle! Side Effects Of Cialis symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Info Levitra prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Buy Lasix Without Prescription accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Cialis For Order lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Buspar Zoloft difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone Information symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost

Buy Clomid

prednisone stopped taking side effects; cough and wheezing with lipitor; Lipitor Instructions Side Effects accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Cialis Injury Lawyer Ohio lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Zoloft Side Effects difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Weaning Off Prednisone symptoms of zoloft working!

cipro and std treatment,

Prozac Side Affects prednisone stopped taking side effects; cough and wheezing with lipitor; Cialis Faq accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Zoloft With Wellbutrin lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Lexapro Withdrawal

difference between lexapro and celexa

clomid with triplets Cialis 20mg symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Atavan And Prozac prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Prozac Long Term Use accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Prednisone Tremors lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Accutane Attorneys California

difference between lexapro and celexa

clomid with triplets Levitra Medicine symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Lipitor And Muscle Pain prednisone stopped taking side effects;

difference between lexapro and celexa

How Does Cialis Work accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Stopping Zoloft lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Side Effects Lexapro difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone Dogs Shrink Tumor symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost India Viagra Cialis Vicodin prednisone stopped taking side effects;

difference between lexapro and celexa

Buy Cialis In The Uk accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Cialis Lawyer Ohio lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Average Dose For Zoloft difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Zoloft Overdose symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Snorting Lexapro

prednisone stopped taking side effects;

cough and wheezing with lipitor; Buy Clomid Online accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Atlanta Accutane Law Suits lipitor drug cost