It has been five days since four American troops and an Iraqi Army interpreter were ambushed and killed in the Triangle of Death by Al Qaeda insurgents and three troops were taken hostage, and with a massive dragnet in place it is fair to ask whether it is having a negative impact on the surge.
The answer, according to a knowledgeable source, is yes.
Bill Roggio confirms that two battalions have been pulled out of Baghdad to join the search, including a Special Operations battalion that was patrolling Sadr City, and two helicopter battalions also have been thrown into the mix.
The source said that there is no evidence that the ambush-kidnappings were specifically designed to hurt the surge.
He explained that:
The patrol was a target of opportunity, and the insurgents took it. It’s propoganda effect is huge and it certainly is creating chaos.
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