progress? what progress?

hite House Says "Operation Swarmer" in Iraq "Tactical"

The White House said on Thursday that Operation Swarmer, believed to be the biggest one since March 2003, is a tactical decision made by U.S. generals in Iraq.

"Our commanders in the theater have the authorization to make tactical decisions about the operations that they undertake," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told a news briefing.

"This operation is part of our ongoing efforts to help move forward on the security front," he said.

McClellan said that U.S. President George W. Bush was briefed on the operation. But he denied that Bush authorized the operation. "This was not something that he needed to authorize," the spokesman said.

--source

oh really?

UNDER the watchful eye of drone spy planes, joint US-Iraqi patrols have surrounded and entered hamlets near Samarra on the second day of a major operation to find insurgents.

Around 50 suspects were detained during the first 24 hours of "Operation Swarmer" which kicked off Thursday morning in Al-Jalam, a large flat area of farmland and desert north of Samarra, but a third of those arrested were later released.
US officials also admitted that of the six weapons caches found, none were substantial.

"The individual caches are not huge," said Major John Callahan of the 101st Airborne Division.
--source