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2004-05-01 Iraq-Jordan
Belmont Club on Fallujah: "Retreat, Hell!"
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Posted by Frank G 2004-05-01 10:42|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Im trying hard to believe this, even though my gut instinct tells me that Fallujah's been a disaster for us. I think that the Arab press, as well as our own (not that there's much difference), will trumpet this as a great victory for the "insurgents." Everything is perception, and a good part of the world is going to perceive that we've quit here, that we've been defeated.
Posted by Infidel Bob  2004-05-01 11:37:34 AM||   2004-05-01 11:37:34 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Makes more sense than any report that the Marines are going back to Camp Peaceful. Not while jihadies are right there arrayed for battle. No I gotta think the battle ground is being reprepared for the next move.

Jarheads, is there nothing they don't know?
Posted by Lucky 2004-05-01 12:06:07 PM||   2004-05-01 12:06:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 This has the traitorous stamp of the Soddy-subverted State Department on it.

The advocates of negotiation and compromise know full well that acceptance of their position will give the terrorists a victory in the war of perception.
Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2004-05-01 12:13:38 PM||   2004-05-01 12:13:38 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 As satisfying as the complete reduction of Fallujah would have been (I, for one, would have bombed it to rubble and then bounced the rubble for a few weeks), this seems to be right out of the Small Wars Manual and probably the most effective way to achieve the objective. The press is going to say whatever it thinks will help elect John Kerry no matter what happens on the ground, so is basically a nonfactor in decision making. Upside, the Fallujah Brigade doesn't have to be nice to the locals.
Posted by RWV 2004-05-01 1:43:15 PM||   2004-05-01 1:43:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Practically speaking, when the "Iraqis are given control" of Fallujah, for every Iraqi, or between every Iraqi, will be one or two Marines.
Sure, they'll let the Iraqis do the talking, and the searching. But let anything happen and the Iraqi will take a step backwards and the Marines will take two steps forwards.

From that point on, every conflict will be called "Iraqi (or foreigner) on Iraqi". The bad guys will stop shooting at Marines and will only shoot at the Iraqis standing behind them. Or so will say the Iraqi spokesman on the scene later.

Soon, the "insurgents" and "resistance" will be called "ordinary street criminals" by the Iraqis. And, as time passes, each day will see fewer and fewer Marines and more and more Iraqi military and police.
Posted by Anonymoose 2004-05-01 2:48:37 PM||   2004-05-01 2:48:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 I'd call it a deadlock. But even so this is going to be a long, very long war. We're going to lose the occasional skirmish and we must start thinking long term by enlarging the Army by 3 divisions + three Brigades.
Posted by Shipman 2004-05-01 5:04:12 PM||   2004-05-01 5:04:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Anyone know anything about Wretchard? His analysis is amazing. He must be former military and a military historian to boot. With regards to perception, if Fallujah is secured and quiet in a couple of months, no one will care or remember how it was done. If this approach gives the Iraqi's the honor they so desperately need, all the better.
Posted by Remote Man 2004-05-01 5:07:52 PM||   2004-05-01 5:07:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 he started out commenting on Little Green Footballs, but his analysis was so sensible and spot-on that he was encouraged to start Belmont. A good move, I'd say
Posted by Frank G  2004-05-01 5:39:28 PM||   2004-05-01 5:39:28 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Amen Frank. And his numbers show it, 500,000+ hits in less than 6 months!
Posted by Mr. Davis 2004-05-01 6:42:06 PM||   2004-05-01 6:42:06 PM|| Front Page Top

20:52 Aris Katsaris
09:08 docob
02:28 Jen
02:18 Atomic Conspiracy
01:22 Mr. Davis
00:53 Mark Espinola
00:40 A Jackson
00:04 Anon666
00:03 B
00:00 Edward Yee
23:56 B
23:55 Edward Yee
23:52 Bomb-a-rama
23:48 Phil Fraering
23:28 B
23:19 B
23:13 RWV
23:12 B
23:12 joe
23:08 B
22:56 RWV
22:53 Frank G
22:49 Frank G
22:47 Aris Katsaris









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