[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 !   * * *

[netmilsmom]

Prayers for our troops. Amen, Amen.

Shoot straight and be safe, guys.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[blackie]

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

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~