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| Anatomy of the Attack: Contractors in Wrong Place at Wrong Time | ||||||||
| 2004-04-03 | ||||||||
The four American contractors who were killed and mutilated in Iraq were "targets of opportunity" who had the bad luck to drive into a pre-planned ambush site, U.S. intelligence sources say. Iraqi insurgents had set up several ambush points around Fallujah, and had stocked them with gasoline on the morning of the attack. Some townspeople had been warned to stay inside. "This was clearly an attack to get maximum media exposure," said one source.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #41 I was not the in the least surprised about what happened in Fallujah. What the bloody hell do people expect???? Iraq was invaded for God's sake do you expect the Iraqis to just accept the invasion and mutilation of their nation. What happened to the contractors was sad very much so but if the coalition of the killing had not invaded then they would still be alive. I know most of you support the invasion,I expect that if conscription were introduced the civillians among you would be the first to the recruiting office ready to be a legalized murderer. Yes Saddam made the choice to do evil but so did Bush and he is still doing it. I totally condemn Saddam for his atrocities and I condemn Bush for his. You condemn Saddam but not Bush. Whatever you do do not vote for Bush.If you do you are digging all of our graves. Someday I WILL be vindicated and I guess those of you who don't want to live in a world without war will not survive after the just and righteous judgement of God who will no doubt anihilate you with Satan for your support of the invasion and therefore slaughter and mutilation of the people of Iraq.FOR HE ALONE IS THE HOLY ONE.HE ALONE IS THE MOST HIGH.NOT Dubya. That is all. |
| Posted by: Antiwar 2004-04-03 11:31:51 AM |
#40 Antiwar, the best response I could give to your spewage would be to quote what Wretchard the Cat wrote earlier this week: (let's see if this little snippet of html works; if it causes problems, dear editors, please let me know)The people in Fallujah were the secret police, and tribute farmers, not only for Saddam, but for some of the empires that ruled Iraq long before he came. They've traditionally been the owners of the plantation, so to speak, for several hundred years. You ignore this history, or give it lip service in your mistaken quest to establish some sort of moral equivalence between what Churchill called the fire brigade and the fire, but it's still there. | |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2004-04-03 11:42:01 PM |
| #39 Dotcom, too right! Alaska Paul was kind enough to email me the link to Belmont Club earlier today and it is EXCELLENT. Whoever Wretchard is, he knows people and things. You're never gone get an analysis of the Falluja sit rep like his on cable news, not even Fox! More's the pity. All your war are belong to us, the blogosphere. |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-04-03 11:30:24 PM |
| #38 Anon, I've mellowed a lot - I'm an old Catholic trying to get into heaven. And venting here I can get a lot more "out there" than I could when I was on the job. Here there is no reason to hold back - just go after the throat quick fast and in a hurry. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-04-03 10:53:34 PM |
| #37 Have you guys seen the Belmont Club post today? I think you will find the section labeled "Addendum" of particular interest. Included is a link to a Fallujah map and discussion of how the city might be "worked." |
| Posted by: .com 2004-04-03 10:49:40 PM |
| #36 Oldspook, you might be just that, a little too furious and a little old-fashioned, but I really think you've got the style down pat. You're darn right. |
| Posted by: Anonymous3999 2004-04-03 9:17:10 PM |
| #35 good stuff .com, LOL. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-04-03 9:09:31 PM |
| #34 TGA - (With apologies to the swabbies and jarheads...) Lol! Sounds like the title of a movie or TV series... [Title Graphic] The Rumsfeld Factor [Voice-over] "They call me Mister Rumsfeld, buddy, so back off!" ... [Graphics: Interlaced Scenes] a) dressing down lazy subordinates b) fishing with his Grandson c) meeting with the President in Oval Office d) explaining gravity to dunce Star Reporters e) sharing MRE's with troops in Afghan mountains [Voice-over] "Tonight's Episode: Assignment: Make Shit Happen" "Battling the evil malaise of Civil Servants, insane Caliphate Islamists, murderous mercenary Warlords, and institutional stupidity - yet taking the time, quality time, advising President Bush on matters of national security and little Tommy on patience, sharing and baring his soul with America's frontline Warriors - Rummy knows how to listen, how to share, how to plan, how to execute, how to Make Shit Happen!" Sorry - The mood overwhelmed me. I love Rummy! Tanx, TGA, for reminding me who it is that does, indeed, makes shit happen! |
| Posted by: .com 2004-04-03 9:01:04 PM |
| #33 RE #13 "I'm wondering when the American public is going to wake up and realize we need some targeted killing in this country. Media Execs, Democraps, Eco-terrorists, Activist Judges, and other various and sundry traitors." If we ever see gibbering mobs of drug-crazed pop-culture conformists, peace hypocrites, and ACLU donors butchering people in the streets, and the law can't deal with it, then perhaps the time will have come. Personally, I don't see it coming to that. I have predicted for some time that we are headed for large-scale violence in this country, but I don't think the rule of law will break down completely, as it did in Iraq when the British left. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2004-04-03 8:55:36 PM |
| #32 FOR HE ALONE IS THE HOLY ONE.HE ALONE IS THE MOST HIGH. Did it ever occur to you that if God DIDN'T want Saddam to go then He would have ensured that the US do not succeed? How do YOU know what God's intentions are, oh pious one? Maybe He was just as pissed off with him as we all were. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-04-03 8:51:01 PM |
| #31 No name change needed: Just call him RUMSFELD |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-04-03 8:23:18 PM |
| #30 Old Spook, I didn't know the SOCOM thing was final yet. We've historically had concern when putting our quasi-spec ops assets under non-Marine commands. (Organizational thing - maybe a bit pretentious but we've never claimed otherwise :) No doubt though it will help op efficiency around the world, Recon are some high-speed low-drag mofos. Amphib recon, trap missions, cqb, ship knockdowns, deep patrol, you name it they do it well. Heck, FAST Company does similar things w/CQB real well to. Rangers included in all of that. I did see the Secretary thing though - we've also a historical problem w/the word Secretary and Marines going together ;) Ship - Duly noted brother. I'd like to see the "War Department" come back as well. And instead of secwar, how about the "minister of war". I like the sound of that. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-04-03 5:06:24 PM |
| #29 Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. Its official - congress passed a law. First change of that title in over 200 years. Congratulations Jarhead. Phase I of WarPlan Green succeeded. Phase II. The name change to Secretary of the Marines and other Maritime Units is next. Followed by. Phase III. Named changed to Secretary of the Marines and other related armed Forces. Phase IV. Secretary of the Marines. Phase V. Secretary of Defense. Phase VI. Secretary of No Peace Phase VII. Secretary of Total War. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-03 3:35:33 PM |
| #28 Allow me to amplify some of the remarks here. 1) Dubya will win in Nov. and he will win big, so large, hopefully, this socialist tendency which has diseased the democratic party will be exorcized from the body politic for good. 2) Old Spook. Thanks for the assurances that the right folks will be dealing with those thugs. The spooks are back, baby! They are pissed and coming for barbarians worldwide! Thank God for them and not a moment too soon. 3) Anti-war: You are going to be soo let down in November, I am not so certain you will be logging on here by then. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-04-03 2:02:22 PM |
| #27 Jarhead, I give ones like this a chance. They show their true colors and hang themselves. And I'm glad to see the Marines finally donating to the cause. Some Force Recon types are finally getting permanently assigned over to SOCOM. Be good to have them on board to keep down the swelled heads of those Navy guys [grin]. No better bunch to have your back when you needed an extract - Force Recon and Army Rangers, all business. By the way did you see the new title for SECNAVY? Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. Its official - congress passed a law. First change of that title in over 200 years. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-04-03 2:02:10 PM |
| #26 Gents, no need to waste your breath on aunti-snore. She sucks like a hoover vacuum. That stupid bitch spews more diarhea out of her pie hole then six mexicans on a three day bender. The religion angle is a new one for her btw; OS, your wasting your time giving her a biblical lesson, she'll rationalize the info anyway her twisted little grape sees fit. Anti-war, you are one stupid p.o.s. Please, for the sake of man-kind - don't ever reproduce. If you already have, my check for a $1.32 per month (about the price of a cup of coffee) is on its way. BTW - I enjoy being allowed to commit state sanctioned murder on assholes around the globe. Go back to momma little girl, hide your head in the sand - that's about your speed. Let the exertions of better men provide for your comfort and freedom. No thanks necessary. Semper Fidelis, and please wipe the spittle off your chin. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-04-03 1:18:53 PM |
| #25 Antiwar condems saddam!? Oooh thats really talking tough. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-04-03 12:52:55 PM |
| #24 Yes Saddam made the choice to do evil but so did Bush and he is still doing it. I totally condemn Saddam for his atrocities and I condemn Bush for his. You condemn Saddam but not Bush. Haahahahahahaaa, Bush == Saddam? Not by a long shot. Say, I was in Australia a number of times and I wasn't aware the kind of shit that you smoke was available there. Maybe I should have pressed my friends to get me some. Someday I WILL be vindicated and I guess those of you who don't want to live in a world without war will not survive after the just and righteous judgement of God who will no doubt anihilate you with Satan for your support of the invasion and therefore slaughter and mutilation of the people of Iraq. You will be vindicated indeed on Judgement Day when you are asked: "Why did you prefer the continued oppression of the Iraqis to their release from enslavement at the hands of the U.S. military?" |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-03 12:36:25 PM |
| #23 Like General Hagis said, Odd Duck indeed. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-03 12:35:34 PM |
| #22 Antiwar - tripe personified |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-04-03 12:15:54 PM |
| #21 So lets look at this according to your attempt to introduce religion into this. First off, remember the 9th commandment, antiwar you violate it so often and willingly. And your heart is filled with hate. It brims over in your writing, your visceral hate and bile directed at the US and G.W. Bush. You really need to do an examination of conscience - you have put your immortal soul at risk. There was murder, rape, mass killings, and a repression throught the society. Hundreds of thousands perished horribly. The mass graves stand as proof. The richest nation in the region was systematically plundered and savaged. The palaces of Saddam and the Baathists stand as testimony to this in contrast to the ghettos in most Iraqi cities. People were starving. People, including children, were dying, and being tortured. Rape was systemic and endemic - and used often as revealed in the records and documents of the Saddam Baathist regieme. This went on for decades. Then the US and Coalition invaded. The torture stopped. The mass deaths stopped. The secret police stopped. The plundering stopped. And the people were freed. "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all its inhabitants thereof" (Lev.25: 10). And now we are feeding them, bringing them more water and electricity than they had before the war, more food, more hospitals, more medicines, better medical care, freer speech, and a freer economy. And we are teaching them how to maintain this on their own. So if we look with your particualr theological viewpoint, and examine the REAL facts and discard your self-delusions and lies , there is only one inescapable conclusion that your logic leads you to: The Coalition troops are doing the work of GOD and by opposing them and lying about them, and dwelling with hatred in your heart, you are opposing GOD's WILL! That puts you wrong the wrong side of vindication, doesnt it? Perhaps you better examine your conscience, examine your errors, and pray for forgiveness with genuine contriteness. You have sinned greatly - but not so great that you cannot be forgiven. God's capacity to forgive far exceeds your ability to sin. Just be sure you are genuinely repentant, contrite and vow to try to sin no more and avoid occaisions of near sin. God's love is perfect and will forgive you for opposing Him. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-04-03 12:05:27 PM |
| #20 "The mutiliation of their nation"? Where do you get this bilge? The nation was mutilated well before we got there. What else do you call the mass graves, multialted tortured children, gassed kurds, etc? Are you genuinely that willfully ignorant? And its not "leagllized murder" you idiot. Murder is the unlawful killing of an innocent. You'd best check your definitions - and consider who was in charge of Iraq and who was targeted in the war. Or do you claim that the Baathist torturers and secret police were innocents? Answer now! You cannot claim both sides. You say Saddam was evil, then say it was evil to get rid of him. Well, "anti", which is it? And furthermore, these contractors were murdered and defiled by former Saddamist Baathist elements. Remember that this is the only region in the country where this type of thing is happening regularly. The rest of the country is is rebuilding and learning that the US is their friend. So you now show your true self - you SUPPORT the murdering and thievery of the Batthists! As for Bush being "evil" and committing "atrocities" - prove it. Show me. Right here, right now. Just saying it doesnt make it so. If you do not, then you are a liar, a liar of the worst sort - remember the 9th commandment. Antiwar, its only because of men like us that cowards like you can quiver in fear and bleat out the nonsense that you spew. Freedom doesnt come without cost. And the cost is frequently paid in blood. By your betters. And stop with the self-delusional crap about God vindicating you: you are doing the work of the evil one. The slaughter and mutiliation of the people of Iraq is what the forces of the Coalition STOPPED! Its a documented fact. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-04-03 11:57:07 AM |
| #19 "...those of you who don't want to live in a world without war will not survive after the just and righteous judgement of God who will no doubt anihilate you with Satan for your support of the invasion and therefore slaughter and mutilation of the people of Iraq. FOR HE ALONE IS THE HOLY ONE. HE ALONE IS THE MOST HIGH. NOT Dubya." You must be about as comfortable here as a nun at a Hell's Angels convention. Why don't you make like a bakery truck and haul your sad little buns out of here? "That is all." One hopes. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2004-04-03 11:55:09 AM |
| #18 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: Antiwar TROLL 2004-04-03 11:31:51 AM |
| #17 There were those in Japan who thought the war could go on even after Nagasaki. What makes anyone think this beast has even been only slightly bloodied. 25 million Iraqi and 5 million are easily still in the fight. To bad those people didn't get a mouthfull during major ops. I can tell you this, those asshole are planning right now to take a shot at America and GB. They've got allah whispering in their ear that its all fair game now. They are not going to be our friends until a bunch of them are dead. Like cord wood. And then move on to the next targets. Get this war into an endgame, victory certain, not a thirty years war on drugs thing with no victory in sight. Our enemies want a thirty year war. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-04-03 11:28:49 AM |
| #16 rkb, "We" do not generally operate that way. But sometimes we should. Look at history: Were we able to act against the Brownshirts, or the Khymer Rouge, when they were nascent, and averted the growth of a cancer on the world, it would have taken this sort of effort. But look at the lives saved and the freedom gained. We are not dealing with normal citizenry, but fanatics and fascists, unrepentant murderers and thugs from the Saddam government. These are the men who put families into wood chippers. These are the men who created the mass graves. These are the men who imprisoned and tortured children for political gain. Our forces there treat the non-resisters fairly and well; we feed, house, clothe and educate them. As the Marines say "No better friend, no worse enemy". Its all about destroying the enemy's will to resist. Its the primary object of war - and war of this type was their choice, not ours. We were trying to peacably feed them and help them rebuild. They chose to kill, support the killers, and behave like savages. They chose to turn it into this kind of a war. So a war they will have, and they will suffer very real and terrifying consequences, on a personal and individual basis for those central to the savagery. Like it or not, there comes a time when you have to have hard men doing hard jobs. It must be done cold, not in the heat of anger. It must be systematic. It must be deliberate. And you cannot flinch. You have to do symblic things to strike fear into their hearts and destroy their will to resist. Instill horror without an opportunity for martydom. This is the only thing that will change the people in Fallujah: the threat and horror of such "disappearances", and the rumors and fear that will swirl in their wake. As for our actions: after the initial disappearance, who is to say that they are or remain in "US" custody? There are probably others native to the region who are friendly with us, but who stay unknown. There are some fates that seem worse than death. And consider the origin of the name Azrael. Consider what he does: He is the one who seperates men from their souls. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-04-03 10:50:18 AM |
| #15 Well spoken, rkb |
| Posted by: Evert Visser in NL 2004-04-03 10:14:14 AM |
| #14 No. We don't. The fact that we don't deal with idiots this way is one reason our way of life is worth defending. |
| Posted by: rkb 2004-04-03 9:47:15 AM |
| #13 Re: #9. I'm wondering when the American public is going to wake up and realize we need some targeted killing in this country. Media Execs, Democraps, Eco-terrorists, Activist Judges, and other various and sundry traitors. -AR |
| Posted by: Analog Roam 2004-04-03 8:05:50 AM |
| #12 Spook, some of your stories . . . enough t' give ya the creepin' willies, they are. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-04-03 6:05:34 AM |
| #11 Okay, what does Melach Hamafis mean in English. |
| Posted by: Ben 2004-04-03 4:44:49 AM |
| #10 S'wat I was hopin' for, OS. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-04-03 2:10:39 AM |
| #9 Yep, OS, I think seeing this horror on television is going to make it easier for the American public to accept some new measures, especially targeted killing, and especially if these are implemented first against the scum in Fallujah. Other possibilities are back-channel cooperation with Shiite groups, such as the outlaw Black Flag vigilante organization, unacknowledged demolitions and other forms of harrassment, and a much greater emphasis on clandestine ops in general. Computer sabotage against bank accounts and other forms of economic attack would be another good possibility. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2004-04-03 2:09:50 AM |
| #8 ...OS - I always liked the Hebrew better: Melach Hamafis. And in this case, ever so much more fitting. *G* Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2004-04-03 2:09:34 AM |
| #7 os...Me thinks you are correct. If only Carlos were still alive an in uniform. |
| Posted by: anymouse 2004-04-03 1:37:12 AM |
| #6 This battle was stoped short. I hope the new fight wont be. I think America is ready for the rumors of war. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-04-03 1:18:41 AM |
| #5 This fact pattern is pretty much how I thought it went down. I don't believe that the truck drivers were invloved...they were just not targets. |
| Posted by: Traveller 2004-04-03 12:51:08 AM |
| #4 Damn, OS, remind me never to get on your bad side. I'm still shivering. Azrael indeed, heh. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-04-03 12:48:23 AM |
| #3 former members of Saddam Hussein's paramilitary forces and some "non-Iraqi Arabs." ... intelligence sources say they know who they are going after. [grin] You don't see me raving for Revenge, now do you? I have a very good estimate of whats in store for these boys. Most of them are targets of little more than publicity value, disposable. Others we might want to get to know. To make an example of to others of their ilk. The lucky ones will be very publicly arrested during Marine/Iraqi police sweeps - and the friendly Clerics will have them condemned for abusing the corpses in severe violation of Islamic law and public law - jail time for any over the age of 13. Identified on TV, makes them easy. The unlucky ones will happen to think they can fight it out and hide. Until they find out just how good Marine snipers are. But a few key ones are going to just disappear. Quietly. In the Night. Only leaving a blood trail and possibly some dead male relatives because dead men do not talk. It will not be the Marines or the Army who get them. These are going to be the ones that wished they were dead. Safe bet some already have. "Azrael" comes for them. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-04-03 12:38:23 AM |
| #2 U.S. forces are expected to take decisive action against the attackers within the next several days, and intelligence sources say they know who they are going after. Good. And I hope they don't plan on bringing back prisoners. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-03 12:26:47 AM |
| #1 Told to stay inside, and no one warned us. Hmmmm, perhaps we shouldn't be so nice to the "uninvolved". Do they qualify as "uninvolved" if they didn't warn us? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-04-03 12:24:49 AM |