Posted on 03/31/2004 10:37:53 AM PST by Destro
9 Americans, including 4 civilians, killed in Iraq Contractors' bodies mutilated, dragged through Fallujah's streets
NBC, MSNBC and news services
Updated: 1:06 p.m. ET March 31, 2004
BAGHDAD, Iraq - In one of the bloodiest and most horrifying days since the end of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, five U.S. troops and four American civilian contractors were killed in separate attacks in the Sunni Triangle west of Baghdad. After ambushing the vehicle carrying the civilian contractors in Fallujah, jubilant Iraqis burned and mutilated the dead, then dragged two corpses through the streets and hung them from a bridge spanning the Euphrates River.
The brutal treatment of the bodies occurred after the contractors were killed in a rebel attack on their two SUVs in the city about 35 miles west of Baghdad, scene of some of the worst violence on both sides of the conflict since the beginning of the American occupation a year ago.
Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said at a briefing in Baghdad that it was not known what the coalition contractors were doing in Fallujah — apparently without a military escort — when the attack occurred.
U.S. officials, who spoke with NBC News on condition of anonymity, said that all four contractors were Americans who worked for Blackwater USA of Moyock, N.C. The officials did not confirm reports from the scene that a woman was among the dead.
Blackwater USA supplies security guards to the Coalition Provisional Authority and has provided protection for Iraq administrator L. Paul Bremer, among other coalition officials. The officials said it was not immediately clear what the four people killed Wednesday were doing in Fallujah.
Five U.S. troops killed in bombing The killings of the contractors came shortly after five U.S. troops died when their military vehicle ran over a bomb in Malahma, about 12 miles to the northwest of Fallujah, among the reed-lined roads through some of Iraq’s richest farmland.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
We have to separate the innocent from the guilty there, however we can. And fast. We've got to get this area under control for the safety of our Troops and the free peaceful Iraqis. And so we can hand the new Iraqi government their (secure)country in June and hopefully bring back our Soldiers imo.
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Right, exactly why we cannot let Fallujah continue to be a trouble spot, it will lead to other places doing the same thing, and make things worse all over Iraq. The Iraqis remember very well Genghis Khan and how he would destroy any town that did not open its gates. After a few demonstrations, they all opened their gates. Well, I'm not suggesting that we Genghis Khan the town, but I am proposing a response that makes the average person in Fallujah and other Sunni towns say that they had better start going along. Heavy loss of property and freedom by suspects, destruction of buildings involved in planning and carrying out attacks, squeezing on the food supplies and money, swift and brutal response to attacks, etc. etc.
If the terrorists see the populace turn against them, and see that attacks like this do not result in American timidity, but in American resolve, then they will have lost some room to maneuver and their tactic will need to be revised. Which is what we want, the opinion of our resident Keyboard Kerrys notwithstanding.
Of course, when you're dealing with 'martyrs', death is not too high a price. What then will this atrocity in Fallujah cost them?
If Fallujah pays heavily, while other towns in Iraq thrive under freedom, what will happen over time is that the people in Fallujah will say "enough!" and kill the terrorists themselves. Right now, they are enjoying the fight a little too much, and some chickens need to come home to roost. I'll bet our people over there are planning some retribution right now.
The US can keep killing the terrorists, but more will be created just as fast. The US needs to target the ideology, those institutions, the culture which is sending these people to murder Americans. If it doesn't do that, it won't matter how many terrorists it kills or cities it levels in Iraq.
Word on the street these days is that Mr Fusion is involved more now in political security than traditional physical security. He must be nearing 50 now and no doubt has lost a step or two...
That gunfight in Prishtina back in December of '98 showed him how easily these traditional linear security ops can be penetrated. Besides his AO in Iraq is in Mosul -- where a couple hardcore NGOs still have him on retainer...
Iraq is a tough spot now and there is a reason senior security staff command as much as 25K a month working independently. Of course the poor folks killed today not seeing that kind of money working under a corporate umbrella but we can certainly hope they had hefty life insurance for their families...
Some will be critical of these types operating independently of the military but it absolutely is the right call by Bremer and the CPA. The American victory on the ground will be predicated by superior intelligence and shock warfare tactics that take out senior opposition elements. Today it appears the west got beat -- tomorrow perhaps another victory...
Mr Fusion often speaks about security in the 21st century as being very non-linear. It must constantly reflect an emphasis on layering and change...
Fatos Nano the best protected leader in the western world -- bar none -- because he has the finest security blanketing him with layering and change. Other Balkan leaders should be so fortunate...
J
I don't know, let's try it and find out.
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