Operation Desert Scorpion responds to attacks
By Kris Osborn
CNN Headline News
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U.S. soldiers conduct a street patrol in Balad, Iraq, Saturday.
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(CNN) -- Faced with continued attacks from Saddam Hussein loyalists, U.S. and coalition forces have begun the largest combat operation since the end of major hostilities in Iraq, according to officials with U.S. Central Command.
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew C. Klee says the operation, called Operation Desert Scorpion, is intended "to isolate and defeat remaining pockets of resistance and assist Iraqis in their transition to self-rule."
Central Command described the operation in a statement. "Combat operations will be followed by synchronized stability and humanitarian operations designed to assist a transition to Iraqi self-rule.
"These include engineer and civil affairs initiatives to repair damaged infrastructure, support the growth of police forces and local government and improve the lives of Iraq's citizens."
A U.S. military spokesman told CNN the recent violence suggests that the situation in Iraq is "a larger challenge than policy makers anticipated." President Bush announced an "end to major combat" in Iraq on May 2.
Since May, nearly 40 U.S. troops have been killed in attacks, the spokesman said, because many of deposed leader Saddam Hussein's forces and Ba'athist Party members have survived the war.
"The Ba'athists had armed tens of thousands of fighters, many of whom are still moving around with a vested interest in causing chaos. I'm sure they have access to resources, money and guns so they can put together some kind of organized resistance," the spokesman said.
Also, officials say the continued question about Saddam's fate is having an impact on the ground. A military spokesman told CNN that "Saddam had about 12 guys surgically altered to look like him. No body equals no proof, until they come up with DNA or a body, there is no closing the case."
One U.S. military official was more optimistic, saying "the Iraqis will take care of the criminal and Ba'athist elements themselves. The real key is the economy and the fact that the common people do not have access to the resources of the country."
Concern is growing, however, among military officials about the continued influence of Iranian-based Shiite [or Shia]Muslims stepping in to fill the void in Iraq.
A U.S. military spokesman said "The Ba'athists are a real problem in the north, but they are not nearly as influential as the Iranian-based Shias who have access to money and resources as well."
Speaking of the recent protests in Iran against the fundamentalist leadership, one U.S. military source said, "We need to apply ideological, economic and diplomatic pressure to encourage freedom of expression and support a change in leadership in Iran."
