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2004-04-25 Iraq-Jordan
U.S. patrols to begin in Fallujah
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Posted by chinditz 2004-04-25 9:03:46 AM|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Although the 'cease-fire' talks have been extended through April 27, this could certainly get nasty shortly thereafer. Quoted on CNN: '"Iraqis are stockpiling weapons in mosques, shrines and in schools", Coalition Provisional Authority spokesman Dan Senor said'. My vote: at the first round or RPG fired from any such facility, the Marines go in (accompanied by the local forces of course) clean it out, arrest all found inside until it can be sorted out, and close the facility - "Holy Site" or not. It should be reopened only when the "Civic Leaders" and the CAP can agree on security procedures to prevent these from becoming armed strongholds again in the future. PS: Good rule-of-engagement: anyone seen carrying a weapon in any such site (mosque, school or hospital) is shot on sight.
Posted by BK 2004-04-25 1:21:37 PM||   2004-04-25 1:21:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Quoted on CNN: '"Iraqis are stockpiling weapons in mosques, shrines and in schools", Coalition Provisional Authority spokesman Dan Senor said'. y vote: at the first round or RPG fired from any such facility, the Marines go in (accompanied by the local forces of course) clean it out, arrest all found inside until it can be sorted out,..

No need to arrest anyone. Marines are not cops, and shouldn't be expected or asked to perform police duties. If cleaning out the mosque requires the use of Marines, then the objective should be to kill the people that are causing the problem.
Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-25 2:41:29 PM||   2004-04-25 2:41:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Sorry, I'd disagree: the local Iraqi patrols who will be accompanying U.S. Marines in such operations will need to assist in detaining and interrogating subjects swept up in such actions, possibly using the facilities already constructed for exactly this purpose just outside of Fallujah.Much as it might be gratifying, the CAP cannot allow bloodbaths or 'take no prisoner' operations in places like mosques or hospitals. It would be politically unsupportable and probably counterproductive in the long run.
Posted by BK 2004-04-25 3:21:12 PM||   2004-04-25 3:21:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 This is madness. Whoever is making the decisions in Iraq doesn't know what the fuck he's doing. Maybe Ted Kennedy was right. This will turn into Vietnam if this continues. If Fallujah is not conquered NOW, six months from now it will be the same shit all over again. The jihadis will resupply, get reinforcements, and continue ambushing the troops. Nothing will change.
Posted by Rafael 2004-04-25 5:42:55 PM||   2004-04-25 5:42:55 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Have to agree with Rafael. We all watched Kimmit swear that we were going to get retribution in Fallujah. "Wait and see," he said. Well, here it is almost a month later. We're still waiting, and frankly we're not seeing a whole hell of a lot. This stand down is going to be presented by the insurgents as a tremendous victory for their side. It will likely be presented the same way by both our own and the world press. Bush said he had the stomach for this fight, but for the first time I'm starting to think he doesn't. If we're going to do things by half measures like this, let's just get our men and women the hell out of there before any more of them get hurt. It's stupid to ask them to die for nothing. If we're going to cut and run, let's cut and run now, instead of pretending that we're "staying" some stupid "course" and getting a lot of good people killed. Fallujah would have been over and done and forgotten about weeks ago if the Marines had been given their heads. Now it's a huge clusterf**k. Same with Najaf. Methinks the War on Terror is starting to look a lot like that war in a certain jungle country. Fight to win, or don't fight at all.
Posted by Infidel Bob  2004-04-25 8:08:13 PM||   2004-04-25 8:08:13 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Patience, boys, patience.
Our Marines are staging the Siege of Falluja (although no one in the LLL press will call it that).
Remember Sun Tzu: "When you are near, appear far."
Time is on our side.
Posted by Jen  2004-04-25 8:11:34 PM|| [http://www.greatestjeneration.com]  2004-04-25 8:11:34 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Jen:

I'll believe it when I see it. The only thing I see us appearing so far is brain dead.
Posted by Infidel Bob  2004-04-25 8:42:05 PM||   2004-04-25 8:42:05 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 I hate to say it, but I'm afraid Bob is right. We had momentum, we had 'em on the ropes, and then the "negotiation" charade started.
Posted by docob 2004-04-25 9:53:47 PM||   2004-04-25 9:53:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Just saw the latest headline on Drudge. Bush ordered this. The war's over, boys. We lost.
Posted by Infidel Bob  2004-04-25 10:13:46 PM||   2004-04-25 10:13:46 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Infidel Bob (love your name, BTW), Get a grip!
Drudge isn't God (or a moron, but somewhere in between).
Check out this story from the Telegraph:
 
Fallujah will be your Stalingrad, Americans told
On the dusty road to the Jordanian Hospital on the edge of besieged Fallujah a skull and crossbones flew defiantly from the bonnet of a US military Humvee yesterday as preparations were made for a renewed offensive.

I'm pretty sure that neither our generals in Iraq nor the Pentagon will politely inform the media or even quietly tip off Drudge as to what our real attack plans are.
Posted by Jen  2004-04-25 10:27:41 PM|| [http://www.greatestjeneration.com]  2004-04-25 10:27:41 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 the local Iraqi patrols who will be accompanying U.S. Marines in such operations will need to assist in detaining and interrogating subjects swept up in such actions,..

I don't know of what value interrogation would be, unless there is a plan to capture the local leaders. I say find and kill them, and be done with them and their kind.

Much as it might be gratifying, the CAP cannot allow bloodbaths or 'take no prisoner' operations in places like mosques or hospitals. It would be politically unsupportable and probably counterproductive in the long run.

This is not a good sign. If something needs to be done, then for God's sake, get on with it and explain the necessities clearly to the proper people later. It's like firings or layoffs; can't spend time worrying about the effect on the remaining employees when the company is in dire straits and losing money.
Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-25 11:01:45 PM||   2004-04-25 11:01:45 PM|| Front Page Top

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