Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Marines Encircle Fallouja (Operation Valiant Resolve commencing)
LA Times ^ | 4-4-04 | Tony Perry and Edmund Sanders

Posted on 04/04/2004 10:01:15 PM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: ca; fallouja; falluja; fallujah; iraq; marines; muslims; opvaliantresolve; valiantresolve
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 541-560561-580581-600 ... 681-695 next last
To: MEG33
Thanks for the ping MEG33. I need to catch up on the thread.
561 posted on 04/05/2004 8:38:56 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: BurbankKarl
These animals may not have realized the hell they were bringing down on themselves... but they are about to find out.
562 posted on 04/05/2004 8:41:21 AM PDT by Lunatic Fringe (John F-ing Kerry??? NO... F-ING... WAY!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mathluv; All
Warrant Issued for Shiite Cleric's Arrest

BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi judge has issued a murder arrest warrant for a radical Shiite Muslim cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, for the slaying of another Shiite leader, coalition officials said Monday.

Coalition spokesman Dan Senor announced the warrant but would not say when al-Sadr would be detained. "There'll be no advance warning," he said.

Senor said the arrest warrant had been issued several months ago. He refused to say why al-Sadr had not been arrested earlier.

Al-Sadr and his supporters were responsible Sunday for some of the worst violence since the ouster of Saddam Hussein.

563 posted on 04/05/2004 8:42:04 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 558 | View Replies]

To: Delta 21
....does this mean Ann Margrett isn't coming?

No, it means Britney Spears will be delayed.

564 posted on 04/05/2004 8:45:18 AM PDT by oyez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

Comment #565 Removed by Moderator

To: Pegita
Another 110% amen.
566 posted on 04/05/2004 8:47:55 AM PDT by amom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 550 | View Replies]

To: TexKat
It was like flying blind.We really still know virtually nothing about how the operation is proceeding.!The #s on our side were grossly exagerrated by the arab blogs.
567 posted on 04/05/2004 8:50:23 AM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 561 | View Replies]

To: Yehuda
Could happen. Looks like a civil war may be erupting. Well, we're in a world war against radical (real) islam, so this should be seen as one front.
568 posted on 04/05/2004 8:53:02 AM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 565 | View Replies]

To: Yehuda
That report about the helicopter is somewhat suspect.I heard Kimmitt say one helicopter was shot at and fired back..it was a brief flurry ,I think.
569 posted on 04/05/2004 8:53:21 AM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 565 | View Replies]

Comment #570 Removed by Moderator

To: Yehuda
It wouldn't surprise me that insurgents have infiltrated the Iraqi police.
571 posted on 04/05/2004 8:58:00 AM PDT by Catspaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 565 | View Replies]

To: BurbankKarl
"This town needs an enema"...The Joker.

Red

572 posted on 04/05/2004 9:08:10 AM PDT by Conservative4Ever (EVIL.......thy name is Hillary)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MEG33; Yehuda
Shi'ite Militia Rules Streets of Baghdad Slum

By Michael Georgy

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. helicopter gunships opened fire as tanks rumbled through Baghdad's sprawling Shuala district Monday, but teenage militiamen with guns and knives were firmly in control when the clashes ended.

Young boys jumped up and down on a U.S. military truck that had been attacked and set ablaze in a symbolic victory for radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose militiamen are challenging U.S. forces in several cities across Iraq.

Sadr's Mehdi Army has said for months it is ready for holy war against the Americans if the order comes, and the militia displayed its zeal and organizational skills Monday in Shuala, a teeming Shi'ite area.

Officials in Sadr's local headquarters said U.S. troops backed by helicopters mounted an incursion into Shuala in the morning, firing tank-mounted machineguns from a distance.

"People came out from their homes when they saw what was happening. U.S. troops fled when a (tank) transporter in the convoy was seized and set on fire," said Sheikh Ali, carrying a pistol and wearing a "Fine Surfing Gear" sweatshirt.

"Look what they have done," he added, pointing to bullet holes in the walls of the Sadr group's office.

There was no firm word on casualties in the strike, thought to be the first of its kind inside Baghdad since the war that toppled Saddam Hussein nearly a year ago, but an anti-U.S. cleric said five people were killed and 10 wounded.

By the early afternoon, the militiamen ruled the streets, with only a few bursts of gunfire in the distance.

MILITIA WEIGHS NEXT MOVE

Inside the Sadr group headquarters, guarded by fighters behind sandbags, senior clerics from the district were consulting with the fiery cleric by telephone.

"He has handed down an order saying that we should try to calm things down but defend ourselves if we are attacked," said one man, who declined to give his name.

"When the order comes for a holy war, there will not be one American left in the street."

Outside, young teenagers with Kalashnikov rifles, long knives and clubs closed off the main road leading to where U.S. troops waited in Humvees and tanks on the edge of the district.

Older militiamen and civilians sympathetic to Sadr formed neat rows along the street, awaiting U.S. military vehicles.

Every time they showed up, the men dressed mostly in black sat in the road to block the approaching Humvees. They held up posters of their leader, yelling "Long live Moqtada."

The chain of command seems clear. Only top clerics are allowed to speak about the U.S.-led occupation or the protests and clashes that erupted in several Iraqi cities Sunday.

In a well-rehearsed line, militiamen insist they would only resort to violence to defend themselves or the Iraqi people.

In the end, a cleric walked over to the U.S. troops to negotiate. Sadr's people said the Americans had agreed to only one of a long list of demands -- that they leave Shuala.

"You see, the Americans sent someone to call for negotiations. It is a sign of weakness," said Sheikh Ali.

573 posted on 04/05/2004 9:10:08 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 569 | View Replies]

To: Ragtime Cowgirl
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

574 posted on 04/05/2004 9:12:18 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 483 | View Replies]

To: CyberAnt
Of course we needed a plan, but if it took two days to close off the raods, why would the shooters remain there...........please, indeed.
575 posted on 04/05/2004 9:17:42 AM PDT by breakem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 403 | View Replies]

To: Yehuda
Warrant Issued for Shiite Cleric's Arrest

BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi judge has issued a murder arrest warrant for a radical Shiite Muslim cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, for the slaying of another Shiite leader shortly after the U.S.-led invasion of the country, coalition officials said Monday.

Coalition spokesman Dan Senor announced the warrant but would not say when al-Sadr would be detained. "There'll be no advance warning," he said.

The announcement of the warrant came a day after violent clashes between militiamen loyal to al-Sadr that killed 52 Iraqis, eight U.S. soldiers and a Salvadoran soldier — some of the worst gunbattles since the ouster of Saddam Hussein.

Since the violence, al-Sadr has been holed up in a mosque in the city of Kufa, south of Baghdad, surrounded by armed supporters.

Senor said the arrest warrant had been issued several months ago. He refused to say why al-Sadr had not been arrested earlier.

Al-Sadr is accused in the slaying of Abdel-Majid al-Khoei, a rival Shiite cleric who was stabbed to death by a mob at a Shiite shrine in the city of Najaf in April.

A total of 25 arrest warrants have been issued in the case, and 13 suspects have been taken into custody. Sunday's violence in Baghdad and other cities was sparked by the arrest last week of Mustafa al-Yacoubi, a senior aide to al-Sadr, on one of the warrants.

576 posted on 04/05/2004 9:20:09 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 570 | View Replies]

To: TexKat
Kimmitt said the rule of Iraq will not be decided by mob rule,but by elections.We will be here to enforce this after the turnover on June 30th,despite misconceptions about the turnover.

Of course our great Congressional leaders are "concerned" about the date,is it possible,etc,etc.We are here to stay,says Kimmitt.

"America's prestige has declined.Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam"...today's example of the always measured speaking of Edward Kennedy.
577 posted on 04/05/2004 9:20:11 AM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 573 | View Replies]

To: Fledermaus
No doubt, but if part of the mission is to find the shooters in Fallujah, I think we left a big gap.
578 posted on 04/05/2004 9:20:53 AM PDT by breakem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 128 | View Replies]

To: Fledermaus
No doubt, but if part of the mission is to find the shooters in Fallujah, I think we left a big gap.
579 posted on 04/05/2004 9:20:58 AM PDT by breakem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 128 | View Replies]

To: Cap Huff
point taken
580 posted on 04/05/2004 9:23:23 AM PDT by breakem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 541-560561-580581-600 ... 681-695 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson