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.

[teletech]

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

I would hope so but I did read that and I thought it was here on FR. I wouldn't put it past the Bush hating, AMERICA HATING AP!

[MEG33]

I believe they were aware that ambushes had been set up in several locations.I think AFP had prior knowledge,AP looks suspicious,too.

[Chunga]

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

If true, they've been taking reporting lessons from Peter Jennings and Mike Wallace.

[Getsmart64]

Dude...when the knife is at your throat and they are giving you the ultimatum of either coverting or die...don't look toward me for help...'cause I will let you die.....or kill you if you convert....

[america-rules]

"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...."

I see my own son in that picture as well as many others sons !

Our way of life isn't free and to those who give the ultimate for us we need to thanks 10000's of times!

[lavrenti]

They were Arabs with the Frog news agency AFP and the usual low-lifes from Al-Jazeera.

Al-Jazeera we kind of need for our own uses. AFP ought to have their press passes revoked by the interim Iraqi authority. Also, Bush would be wise to retaliate by banning AFP from any WH or Pentagon event.

Make an example.

[txrangerette]

Thought it was AFP; Agence-France-
Press.

[teletech]

If true, they've been taking reporting lessons from Peter Jennings and Mike Wallace

They are ALL SCUM!

[Robert_Paulson2]

That's really the sick part.
Hiding behind the children and the women...
for the sake of the cameras.

It's just like arafat in the West Bank at Jenin.
I pray for the guys and gals doing the hard and dangerous work in harms way.

I know that the lefties are praying for televised human tragedies from this. I hope the US takes out the news media first.

[Getsmart64]

are my post being removed???

[LdSentinal]

don't look toward me for help...'cause I will let you die.....or kill you if you convert....

What if I offered you grammer lessons? Would you then help me?

[WhereDidMyCountryGo]

The television news media basically hangs the "Gone Fishing" sign on the door on weekends, but Fox News has considerably more live weekend coverage than CNN or MSNBC. Fox has three reporters in Iraq -- David Piper, David Lee Miller and Steve Centanni. If the military allows any reporters close enough to cover the action in Fallujah, their reports should begin showing up on "Fox & Friends" in the early morning hours and then on other shows throughout the day.

[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...."
I see my own son in that picture as well as many others sons !

"Our way of life isn't free and to those who give the ultimate for us we need to thanks 10000's of times!"


Amen to that.

[McGavin999]

Of course not, they were notified of what was going to happen ahead of time.

Everyone: I is MHO that this has all been pretty much worked out with the local shieks ahead of time. Those shieks are a pretty corrupt group, but they're not stupid. They want to live, and they want to prosper. I think they are going to give up the troublemakers. Well, not actually give them up, but not stand in the way of the Marines. Of course, they will all be awarded lucrative reconstruction contracts afterward. I could be wrong, but I'd be willing to be these guys will not stop us from getting the bad guys.

[Woahhs]

oh you have no idea how bad you screwed the pooch.

[teletech]

Thought it was AFP; Agence-France- Press.

OK, come to think of it, I think you are correct but there was something that the AP arrived VERY SHORTLY after it happened.

[lavrenti]

In the mood I am in, when I think of "embedded journalists", I visualize an AFP reporter smooshed in the ground after accidently getting in the way of a tank.

I hate those vile bastards. There were indications they were tipped off about the corpse abuse before it had started.

[piasa]

Friendly tip : Do opposition research before you open your mouth. It'll save you a lot of embarassment later.

[BushMeister]

Dude...when the knife is at your throat and they are giving you the ultimatum of either coverting or die...don't look toward me for help...'cause I will let you die.....or kill you if you convert....

And, then, in his next post:

are my post being removed???

LOL!!!

[Fledermaus]

No...#121 from LD was removed.