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Coalition Vows 'Deliberate' Response to Attacks
DoD-AFPS ^
| John D. Banusiewicz
Posted on 04/01/2004 9:44:15 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
Coalition Vows 'Deliberate' Response to Attacks
By John D. Banusiewicz American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 1, 2004 A "deliberate, precise, overwhelming" response awaits the insurgents who killed four American contractors and five U.S. soldiers March 31, the coalition's military spokesman said at a Baghdad news conference today. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7, promised an appropriate, if not immediate, military reaction. escorting a food convoy in Fallujah, Iraq, and those whose roadside bomb killed near that city on "We are not going to do a pell-mell rush into the city (of Fallujah)," Kimmitt said. "It's going to be deliberate, it will be precise, and it will be overwhelming. We will not rush in to make things worse. We will plan our way through this, and we will re-establish control of that city, and we will pacify that city." Kimmitt said the restraint shown by military leaders in the aftermath of the Fallujah attack in which the bodies of the victims were abused and desecrated may have prevented more carnage. "I think that there was a well-thought-out decision on the part of the Marines" not to rush headlong into the city, Kimmitt said, given the possibility that the insurgents could have had ambushes set up or might have used civilians as human shields. "While (the desecration of the victims' bodies) was dreadful, while it was unacceptable, while it was bestial," the general said, "a pre-emptive attack into the city could have taken a bad situation and made it even worse." But the lack of an immediate military response doesn't mean there won't be one, Kimmitt said. "We will be back in Fallujah," he vowed. "It will be at the time and the place of our choosing. We will hunt down the criminals. We will kill them or we will capture them, and we will pacify Fallujah." At a Baghdad Police Academy graduation ceremony today for 479 new Iraq police, the coalition's civilian administrator also condemned the attacks, according to chief spokesman Dan Senor, also at the news conference. Senor read reporters a portion of Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III's comments. "The acts we have seen were despicable and inexcusable," Senor quoted Bremer as saying. "They violate the tenets of all religions Islam included as well as the foundations of civilized society." Senor said Bremer promised the soldiers' and contractors' deaths "will not go unpunished." Senor relayed Bremer's expression of sympathy to the families of all civilian and military Iraqi and coalition families whose loved ones "have given their lives in the war to liberate Iraq and free it from terrorism." Bremer termed the attacks as "a crime under law and a crime against the future of Iraq," Senor said, and labeled the attackers as "cowards and ghouls" who represent the worst of society. Bremer also expressed his determination that Iraq's progress toward democracy would be undeterred by the attacks. "These murders are a painful outrage for us in the coalition, but they will not derail the march to stability and democracy in Iraq," Senor quoted from Bremer's statement.
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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bremer; fallujah; gnfi; iraq
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To: Jim Noble
I really almost don't want to read another thread unless it's titled "Pacification commences in Falluja".
21
posted on
04/01/2004 10:14:23 AM PST
by
txhurl
(Fallujah is gonna get it.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
As far as Fallujah is concerned, the U.S. military looks an awful lot like the contractor who toils away in a public housing project, walking through piles of sh!t so he can replace the same broken windows and the same stolen light fixtures, and sheet-rocking the same walls on a daily basis.
22
posted on
04/01/2004 10:16:16 AM PST
by
Alberta's Child
(Alberta -- the TRUE north strong and free.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I vote for the Carthage solution.
Fallujah delenda est.
23
posted on
04/01/2004 10:21:21 AM PST
by
Junior
(Remember, you are unique, just like everyone else.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I hope for two things:
- We're using the WWII definition of "pacification"
- The few innocents that may be in Fallujah get the pacification ball rolling before we do.
If point 2 doesn't happen, it wouldn't sadden me in the least to see Fallujah mentioned in the same breath as Carthage.
24
posted on
04/01/2004 10:31:21 AM PST
by
steveegg
(Radical Islam has more in common with Islamic populations than the mainstream media has with America)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bless YOU!!
25
posted on
04/01/2004 10:32:57 AM PST
by
Happy2BMe
(U.S.A. - - United We Stand - - Divided We Fall - - Support Our Troops - - Vote BUSH)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I'd prefer a more 'Gary Cooper' approach to retribution - less talk & more action. Find the enemy & destroy them and never say a word before you take action. We don't need to be 'trash-talking' about what we're about to do.
A bit of surprise here might be a good thing.
To: SolutionsOnly
I don't think our politicians are running the military ops over there.....
27
posted on
04/01/2004 10:44:43 AM PST
by
Getsmart64
(LANTIRN - Designed to kill, maim, and destroy ....America's enemies...)
To: Getsmart64
***"I don't think our politicians are running the military ops over there....."***
I sure hope you're right about that.
To: steveegg
I'm reminded of an old saying from Vietnam days... "It was necessary to destroy the ville in order to save it." This was held up by the Kerry's of the world as military doublespeak, but today I understand perfectly.
I understand also that blowing Fallujah off the map is not the correct solution. But as long as it remains a hemorrhaging wound, Fallujah is going to prevent us from winning, and could spread it's infection to other parts of the body of Iraq. Cordon, lockdown, arrest, shoot anyone that doesn't like it.
29
posted on
04/01/2004 10:53:45 AM PST
by
johnb838
(Kerry: Wrong on Defense, Wrong on Taxes. Repeat as necessary.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
My Plan:
Step 1. Create two detention camps, separated from each other, outside of Fallujah.
Step 2. Isolate Fallujah. No entrance. No exit. Establish control points on the border of the city.
Step 3. Cut off food.
Step 4. Cut off water.
Step 5. Cut off electric.
Step 6. Drop leaflets to the citizens of Fallujah.
The leaflets will demand:
a.) All women and children under the age of 16 shall proceed on foot to control points on the border of the city within 24 hours. Any vehicle approaching a control point will be destroyed. No exceptions. Women and children will be placed in the detention camp 1.
b.) All males remaining in the city are demanded to capture or kill all anti-US and anti-New Iraq forces and bring bodies or people to control points on the border of the city. The bodies or captured must be brought on foot to the control points. Any vehicle approaching a control point will be destroyed.
c.) Weapons of all kinds must be brought to control points on the border of the city. Weapons must be delivered on foot or by cart pulled by man. Any vehicle approaching a control point will be destroyed.
The completion of items b and c will occur within one week of the women and children leaving Fallujah.
At the end of the 8 days, U.S. forces will evaluate the progress made by the men of Fallujah. If U.S. forces are not 100% confident that all terrorists and weapons have been accounted, the U.S. forces will commence with 24 hour per day carpet bombing of the city. The bombing will continue until the U.S. is 100% confident that all terrorists and weapons have been destroyed.
This plan is based on a number of principles.
i.) Women and children have been given the opportunity to leave the battlefield.
ii.) The men of Fallujah will fight for their own freedom - not U.S. forces. This is based on a greater principle a people must spill their own blood to pay for their freedom.
iii.) Any action from U.S. forces is measured. An opportunity has been given to the men of Fallujah to resolve this problem using their own means. The men of Fallujah are forewarned of the consequences of their own inaction.
iv.) If required, the action of bombing will be measured. The U.S. could destroy the city of Fallujah completely in a very short period of time. However, carpet bombing will be used, thus insuring additional time under the use of force the men of Fallujah to complete their mission. This allows the men of Fallujah to become convinced to complete their mission to turn over all terrorists and weapons to U.S. control points.
The use of force will leave no doubt in the minds of the men in Fallujah that they have two choices: freedom or death. No one should misconstrue the definition of what America views as freedom. It does not matter that the citizens of Fallujah may see that the occupation by U.S. forces as not being freedom. The people of Fallujah have temporality lost all rights define anything in their lives. It was through their own actions and inactions that the people of Fallujah have lost their rights to define their existence. They have not been proven worthy of making decisions and acting for themselves. It is a most munificent action of the United States to allow the people of Fallujah one more chance to reclaim their freedom by fighting for their own freedom.
It should be made clear that if bombing is required in this engagement, that the U.S. will not provide any assistance in rebuilding Fallujah. After this action is complete, anyone remaining alive will have to live with the consequences of their inaction.
Fallujah will serve as an example to the remainder of the Sunni triangle and Iraq. The people of Iraq will be put on notice that they have a singular mission of preventing any acts of violence against coalition forces and all people aiding in the rebuilding of Iraq.
Eight days hence, once given the example of Fallujah, all citizens of Iraq will be given the same mission to turn over all weapons, terrorists and people participating in resistance against coalition forces. All people of Iraq will be given the personal responsibility to claim their freedom. The consequences are known.
To: PattonReincarnated
"Drop leaflets"???
Do you think they can read?
To: RonHolzwarth
>> "Drop leaflets"???
>> Do you think they can read?
No, I don't think they can read. It's just cya material before you kill so many people and destroy their city. Call me politically astute (I was laughing as I wrote that.)
To: Jim Noble
Muslims, even the Sunnis, respect quick, decisive actions. Notice I did not say they would like these actions, but they will respect them. In other words, hit hard, hit decisively and establish a precedent of focused retaliation. If we hit Fallujah hard, even with the handful of 'innocents' that undoubtedly live there, the Islamists will respect that and think twice. The worst thing we can do is to pull another retreat after this outrage.
33
posted on
04/01/2004 11:40:48 AM PST
by
Sender
(Support Free Republic...become a monthly donor!)
To: RonHolzwarth
34
posted on
04/01/2004 11:45:57 AM PST
by
jimbo123
To: Alberta's Child
I think you seem to be so knowledgable we should choose you as CIC,chief strategist and leader of the free world.
35
posted on
04/01/2004 11:52:34 AM PST
by
MEG33
(John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
To: Alberta's Child
Amen to what you said! Dear residents of (housing project) Fallujah:
If we can't have your hearts and minds, we'll settle for your ass.
36
posted on
04/01/2004 12:07:33 PM PST
by
Sender
(Support Free Republic...become a monthly donor!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
37
posted on
04/01/2004 9:18:26 PM PST
by
Alamo-Girl
(Glad to be a monthly contributor to Free Republic!)
To: Joe Boucher
Grow some balls there Mr. Bush. The man's led us through 9/11 and beyond, and you've got the nerve to question his courage? What a laugh.
38
posted on
04/02/2004 5:19:29 AM PST
by
Coop
(Freedom isn't free)
To: Coop
For three years now Mr. Bush has tied the hands of Israel in regards to their terrorist response.
Also Mr. Bush hasn't been nearly harsh enough with his response towards Saudi Arabia, Syria, nor the Democrat socialists such as Kennedy, Dashole, etc.
As for these devils that did this attrocity to the four Americans his response will be measured for fear of upsetting the f-ing arabs.
39
posted on
04/02/2004 10:12:18 AM PST
by
Joe Boucher
(G.W. Bush in 2004)
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