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.

[mathluv]

Thanks!

[Rummyfan]

Payback is a bit**! Go get 'em!

[mathluv]

I believe the Yassin Solution is the best one - for this guy and any others that promote the killing of our soldiers, or those we train that truly want a democracy.

[montag813]

Personally, I wish every Arab in the ME would just go pound sand. While the lives of our citizens are worth the protection our military affords us, the Arabs have been fighting each other for centuries and will continue to do so long after we leave (if we leave).

I agree. Just take over the oil fields and pumps, and leave them the camels and their hatreds. If we are going to expend blood it had better be for treasure.

[VMI70]

I am not quite sure what you are trying to say in your reply.

"Here's the stupid civilian question of the day: How many Marines in a battalion???"

is a quote from #484, to which I replied with my best guess on the numbers.

Is there a problem here?

[Catspaw]

Bernie Kerik said on Fox that what Sadr would do while Kerik was in country was to incite the crowd, then hide in his mosque until things cooled down because Sadr knew we wouldn't go into the mosque to get him. I hope Sadr knows that we're very patient, and we will get him at a time and place of our choosing.

[VMI70]

You are more than welcome!

[boxerblues]

DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/

another handy link to keep us civilians up to date when they start doing the Military Speak :)

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Pegita]

Heavenly Father, we return to give You thanks that justice for the blood of the innocents is being exacted. May this justice be swift and sure and overwhelming ... let fear grip the hearts of the enemy. Render them totally powerless, that those who would slaughter would never rise again.

You are a God of Mercy ... we pray that You would pierce darkened hearts with the light of Your love. You are a God of Righteousness ... tear down the stronghold of the enemy and raise up a people who desire to dwell in peace and safety. Be the shield that protects our troops in battle, for we covet the safety of each one. Grant success, O God, for their mission is just, in the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen ...

[mathluv]

My reply was meant to whoever was commenting on people who are not familiar with military speak.

I always liked to tell my students that there was no such thing as a stupid question if you intended to learn from the answer. I do not know military speak, but I would like to learn. I do not want to be 'put down' for not knowing.

[mathluv]

I hope some of our Special Forces show him the error of his ways.

[mathluv]

Some nice freeper sent me this one too.


http://www-lib.iupui.edu/subjectareas/gov/military.html
Military Acronyms and Glossaries

[boxerblues]

lol that was me :)

[Redbob]

Kill them all, burn the town to the ground, bulldoze it level and spread salt all over it!

While Al Jazeera cameras record it all.

[Catspaw]

They have a warrant for the arrest of al-Sadr. He'll hide in his mosque until he thinks the heat is off, but we'll get him. And get him good.

A bit ago, CNN's Pentagon reporter, Barbara Starr, said that Gen. Abazaid is asking for an assessment to see if we need more troops, and wants the report within 48 hours. His concern is that the Shiite & Sunni forces will unite, with a big push (and funding) from Iran.

[mathluv]

Thanks again. It would help if I looked at the freeper's name!

[mathluv]

Live press report on Fox aboout Sadr and a warrant for him.

[VMI70]

"... whoever was commenting on people who are not familiar with military speak."

Not wanting to beat a dead horse, but the person commenting was commenting about herself. A little self deprecating humor is a good thing and should rarely result in a "put down". We need to guard against taking ourselves too seriously, otherwise we become liberals.

[mathluv]

I was skipping through posts and did not read them all. 'Stupid questions' is just one of my hot buttons, as I thought I explained earlier. As far as self-deprecating humor, I have no problem with it. W is great at it!