Marines Encircle Fallouja (Operation Valiant Resolve commencing)

LA Times ^ | 4-4-04 | Tony Perry and Edmund Sanders

[BurbankKarl]

FALLOUJA, Iraq — Thousands of Marines surrounded this anti-American stronghold early today in preparation for a complex raid to retake control of the city and apprehend those responsible for last week's slayings of four U.S. security contractors.

The highly anticipated action, dubbed Operation Valiant Resolve, was expected to be one of the biggest military offensives since the fall of Saddam Hussein's government a year ago.

All roads leading to this city of 300,000 were cut off and barricaded with tanks and concertina wire. Working through the cold and windy desert night, under a large moon, Marines set up camps for detainees and residents who might flee any fighting. Before dawn, several Marine positions were hit by mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Bursts of automatic gunfire could be heard throughout the city.

[varina davis]

Wonder if this was supposed to be a GW "surprise," but the LA Times isn't honoring the news embargo. If that's not it, then every journalist in the world is aleep at the switch.

[Dave S]

Why dont they just drop a fuel-air bomb on the place during their morning prayers.

[lavrenti]

That curly-haired, Algerian-looking cretin on the bridge waving I hope gets capped in the worst way.

[Ben Chad]

"I pray that we just sit outside that city and rain Arty and B52 strikes on them and let only the women and children ( 9 and under) come out."

I agree.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That 20,000 number was from a Jihad website according to StillProud2BeFree , not necessarily a true number, but maybe it sounds frightening to them.

[Travis McGee]

Just exactly what are your professional military credentials, Gomer?

You show yours, and I'll show mine.

[america-rules]

"That curly-haired, Algerian-looking cretin on the bridge waving I hope gets capped in the worst way"

I capped him through my Puter already !

[bonfire]

Excellent post and so true.

[victoryatallcosts]

The First Marine Division, Major General Jim Mattias commanding.

See, the problem with the demand for "more troops" is this: the "insurgents" will simply have more targets for suicide bombings. Minimal footprint is the solution against the Islamist.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

I can think of a couple of choice locations for those detainee camps...

[SBprone]

"Frankly, why don't you doom and gloom crowd run back to Democrat Underground where this kind of Chicken Little hysteria is not only welcome but encouraged?"

We can do without the friendly fire here.

[amom]

Amen to your prayer.

[teletech]

would imagine the Marines have told them to stay away. Considering the "journalists" were the ones taking the pictures of the desicration, it really wouldn't be too wise of them to be anywhere there are Marines and guns.

Wasn't there some talk of AP actually being tipped off BEFORE the 4 Americans were murdered so they could get their camera ready?

[lavrenti]

I feel any AFP and Al-Jazzera journalist had better either stay scarce from the area or change their affiliation, because I have the sense, judging from what I read those reporters were tipped off.

Which, of course, means...

[church16]

Jeeeezz, thats right next to my hometown. He looks younger than my Lt's (who also don't look old enough to shave). God be with his family, they will need it. Freedom is never free, but damn what a cost....

[bonfire]

Oh god, please say that isn't so...

[america-rules]

We don't need freeking armchair generals in washington running the war !

All the idiots like Lugar need to shut their faces up and defer questions on the military to the pentagon !

[Spotsy]

Who were the journalists who got the pictures of the Fallujah ambush and mutilation? Did they just happen to be in the area?

[MEG33]

I just googled Al Fallujah and I found an article, I believe it was May of 93,describing it as an area that Saddam heavily recruited from.

It had all the goodies,infrastructure,etc.,was brimming with Anti American signs,said thought to be an area where Baathist leaders had returned so I would not be surprised if that red head is there.

There had been a shoot out there where we killed 17 protesters..seems the locals had been lobbing grenades at our headquarters.

[Getsmart64]

Dude...I can't respond to that other than that I hope...deeply....that we do stay the course...irreguardless of our enemies in the media....