Air Force in for the long haul

Interesting issue of Air Force News this week. "The Airmen are performing jobs normally reserved for deployed soldiers. They are escorting patrols and convoys, helping provide force protection for an Army camp and guarding detainees."

More than 6,000 detainees are housed in the temporary internment facility here while awaiting legal proceedings under the new Iraqi government.

You don't hear much about how many detainees there are total, but if they have 6,000 in temporary quarters they must have thousands more in the permanent facilities like Abu Ghraib. Looks like they're using the same failed strategy in Iraq against terrorists that they employ within the US borders in the war on some drugs. Incarcerate first and ask questions later.

It didn't work to stop drug trafficking. I wonder why they think it will work to stop the insurgency? And with that many incarcerated and the attacks still escalating, it would appear the insurgency is growing, not shrinking. Every arrest probably translates to three new recruits. And so much for Bush's exit strategy.

Airmen are scheduled to continue 179-day tours here for a total of two years. Then, the responsibility for the facilities is scheduled to be transferred to the Iraqis, officials said.

Doesn't sound like they're planning to get out any time soon.