Historically, archy, isn't that a credit to our awesome troops, and a very good first day's efforts?
1st Infantry Division took some bad guys off the streets. Didn't make the mainstream headlines, though every mainstream international press outlet will be sure to headline every precious life lost, as if they care about the troops.
Facts, at least, are usually correct at CJTF-7, and CENTCOM...and when they aren't they correct them, and not buried on the 'back page'.
Most of our allies in Iraq are not speaking to the press, and AP and co. will exploit every potential negative to undermine morale here and at abroad, a daily recap of all that's negative "since May 1st...." - while ignoring the good.
Our troops don't deserve this from our free press.
Sorry to say, but I believe it's now 5 Marines KIA in Fallujah. Four Marines KIA in the IED explosion, one KIA in a exchange of fire in one of the outer neighborhoods of the city while first probing city defenses. At least one Iraqi also killed in that exchange as well.
It's always a victory when casualties can be held to the minimum possible; compared and contrasted to some meatgrinders American Marines have found themselves in our casualty rates appear neither wasteful nor excessive. But Marines who suggested that their methods and equipment would have resulted in fewer casualties than those suffered by the Rangers in Mogadishu may soon choose to reevaluate their opinion.
And even one KIA is always, always a tragedy.
One other thing to recall: it seems that our Marines are being accompanied by the Iraqi police/army they've been training, something like 1600 of them. Our Marines are NOT carrying this load alone.
There've also been reports of AC130 Spectre/Spooky gunship fire into buildings as Marines have drawn fire. That's a particularly dangerous enviornment for a C130 to be working, but those Marines need their fire support.
-archy-/-
ALLIED FORCES PINNED DOWN ON BEACHES!
FDR SILENT ON MASSIVE CASUALTIES!
DEFEAT IMMINENT: IKE'S PLAN GOES AWRY!