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.

[Robert_Paulson2]

iran and syria going to make a move on Israel, simultaneiously along with the Saudis?

[Miss Marple]

Regarding Sadr: Fox News a short while ago carried Bremer's statement that he is an outlaw and is a political opportunist.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good shooting to our 1500 Marines, and the two battalions of Iraqi security forces.

See also, HAL9000's "Bremer qualifies Moqtada Sadr of outlaw..."

 * * *  God Bless our Troops !   * * *

[StarCMC]

I am just trying to catch up from last night, so if this has been answered, just ignore me... I heard that there are 1200 Marines PLUS 2 battallions on Fox News this morning. Here's the stupid civilian question of the day: How many Marines in a battalion???

[Catspaw]

It looks like the news embargo is still in place--a good thing, because I don't want the killers to find out what we're doing live on al Jazeera.

[StarCMC]

God bless your Dan and keep him safe...

[bogdanPolska12]

YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS - Kick ass, go Marines, finish the job. Avenge those who got murder there but also for your own brothers at arms who were killed by them. Also we should pray for Iraq army who is shoulder to shoulder with our Marines in this struggle.

Time of revenge has come. Time of whooping ass has come, time to show the world - Americans do nut run they fight.

You got to love President we have now. No more Somalia, no more Cole, no more Tunisia. Just one can of whooping ass Marines in action.

To all families who have their love ones in Iraq I them in prayer.

Thank you Meek for a ping thread.

Good thing also - Sharon said Arafat is on assignation list - guys I think time of total cleaning has come.

God Bless
Bogdan.

[DollyCali]

good question that many of us do not know..

[DollyCali]

We should do as God commanded the Israelites 1000's of years ago and wipe them out, men, women, children and animals. There is no "creating peace" possibility with these morons.

(IMHO)

[Loyal Buckeye]

My thoughts and prayers for all the troops and their families.

It's time for the Iraq police and citizens to stand up against the thugs.

[Publius6961]

You bet, the perps that did the initial ambush are long gone, and were not on camera. No ID.

I tend to agree, although how much damage could those rats do without the physical and moral support of the local useful idiots? Let's get them, and provide a clear demonstration that providing support carries a deadly price. Every time.

[mewzilla]

I heard this morning that al-Sadr is reportedly telling his followers to cool it. Go figure.

[Jeff Head]

God bless our Marines and keep them safe in the palm of His hand. God guide and direct them to the pacification of that place and the apprehension and bringing to justice (spelled killing) of those who committed, participated in or abetted the atrocity of last week...and those who are formenting insurgency against a free Iraq from that place.

May an unmistakable message go out from that place to all others, in Iraq and elsewhere, as to the consequences of such actions as they took last week. That is what needs to be the legacy of Fallujah.

[OXENinFLA]

What city is Al-Sadr in?

[mewzilla]

Baghdad, I think.

[netmilsmom]

Prayers for our troops. Amen, Amen.

Shoot straight and be safe, guys.

[bogdanPolska12]

What I love is, patience has run out with these murders – finally long over due!!!!!. Sharon is putting Arafat on notice - but there is bigger picture - Sharon is putting Hamas and Hezbollah and others on notice - we will kill you.

What happened in Iraq I would not be surprise Washington finally realize what many of us knew long ago - dealing with these murders can only be done one way - kill them. It is payback time! And payback is a b….

[tracer]

"My guess, Iranians, and they have moved to another city."

"April in Paris......"

[OXENinFLA]

TIMES UKProfile: Hojatoleslam al-Sadr, radical Shia cleric

Al-Sadr claims descent from Islam’s 7th century Prophet Muhammad, a matter of distinction among Muslims. As such, he is referred to as "al-Sayed", or master, by fellow Shia Muslims.

Al-Sadr has not called for armed resistance against US forces, but in his latest sermon delivered last Friday, he said he wanted to be the "striking arm" in Iraq of Hamas, the militant Palestinian group whose suicide bombings have killed hundreds of Israelis.

---

And look who thinks(and probably is) part of Hamas.

[ought-six]

"...the Arabs have been fighting each other for centuries and will continue to do so long after we leave (if we leave)."

Arabs have always fought among themselves, as they are nothing but a loose collections of semi-related tribes, all of whom think they're better than the others. It's funny, they have a long history of fighting, but they suck as fighters. They can kill unarmed women and children and civilians, but they regularly get their butts kicked when they fight an opponent who has even the most rudimentary and basic background in military training. Israel routinely beats the sh!t out of them.