The fighting in Qaim, the epicenter of Operation Matador (during which an entire squad of Marines was wiped out)
rages on.
U.S. military spokesman Capt. Jeffrey Pool said Marines have not conducted operations inside Qaim since the opening days of the campaign,...
Instead, according to Pool, rival bands of insurgents are now fighting among themselves, trading mortar, gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire almost nightly.
Residents acknowledge fighting in Qaim began even before the U.S. offensive, and characterized it as tribal clashes.
If they have the time, resources, and opportunity to fight amongst themselves during a major US offensive, we are truly screwing the pooch.