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Fighting the war in Iraq and a wish list in Washington

The bad news, however, is if indeed President Bush does have a strategy for cusses, he is not sharing it with anyone, least of all with his military commanders.

"On one hand, we’ve got a military strategy," said the president. "We’ll continue to hunt down the terrorists." The president’s remarks came as the US Marines suffered 21 fatalities in just three days in Iraq. Fourteen Marines and their civilian translator were killed in a single massive roadside bomb that exploded as they rode by in their armoured vehicle. The bomb that killed the Marines was larger than those used in the past. It was designed to rip right through additional armour protection US forces have been adding to their combat vehicles. However, in this case, reports from the area say the Marines were travelling in a lightly armoured personnel carrier.

The attack in Haditha, in western Iraq on Wednesday was one of the deadliest single attacks on US forces since the invasion of Iraq began in 2003. Ansar al-Sunna (Defenders of Tradition), which claimed the attack, emerged from Ansar al-Islam (Defenders of Islam), a group with ties to Iran, and whom officials in the Bush administration have linked to Al Qaeda.

"The mujahideen chose the biggest vehicle, the one carrying the most troops, and detonated the devices, causing a massive explosion," read a statement released on the Internet. In a disturbing new development the insurgency is adapting and quickly adjusting to ever-changing tactics on the battlefield. "The insurgents are getting better with every battle, with every attack," a European intelligence source told me. "But to change the ways of an army takes years, if not decades," said the source, speaking on condition his name not be mentioned. "In this instance, time is not working for us, it is working for them, for the insurgents. This can be a big problem," said the intelligence officer.

The Bush administration is not alone in thinking Iran is backing militant groups in Iraq, such as Ansar al-Sunna. The European intelligence officer, who is very familiar with the Middle East, believes Iran is somehow involved in the fighting which led to the killing of the Marines. "For sure they, the neighbours who just had an election, are involved," the source told me.

The other seven Marines appear to have died in combat, with several killed by enemy snipers. "The problem here is that the Marines are being used as special forces," said the European intelligence officer, familiar with the inner workings of special forces operations.

"Close your eyes and run the film of events through your mind. The Marines are dressed up in protective Kevlar body armour, and yet seven are killed in action, some by sniper fire. What does that tell you?"

What this tells me is that the current strategy for success is not working too well. The US Marines are among the best-trained professional fighting forces in the world. For seven to die in a firefight tells me there is more than meets the eye here.

The death of 14 Marines killed by a giant improved explosive device was blamed on a newer, larger and deadlier generation of roadside bombs. This new crop is meant to kill more US troops and to counter the additional protection US troops have been layering their Humvees and other combat vehicles with.

But let’s get back to the president’s strategy. What does it contain, and how will it help win the war? "We’ll continue to hunt down the terrorists as we train Iraqi forces, so they can defend their own country. As Iraqis stand up, Americans and coalition forces will stand down. And we’re making progress," said Bush.

In the meantime, the president reminded the country that we are still at war. "Make no mistake about it: we are at war. We’re at war with an enemy that attacked us on September the 11th, 2001. We’re at war against an enemy that since that day has continued to kill. They have killed in Madrid and Istanbul and Jakarta and Casablanca and Riyadh and Bali and London and elsewhere.

"These are ideologues. See, these people have an ideology," said Bush, adding, "Theirs’ is really different from ours. To win this war on terror, we will use all elements of national power. We’ll use our military. We’ll use our diplomatic corps. In other words, we’re working with friends and allies."

That sounds more like a wish list than a strategy.

Claude Salhani is International Editor and a political analyst with United Press International in Washington.