US Offensive in Fallujah intensifies

DW -World.DE ^ | 4-6-04

[TexKat]

US and Iraqi forces clash with insurgents in Fallujah

There have been heavy clashes between US troops and Iraqi insurgents on the edge of the flashpoint town of Falluja. US commanders have been vowing to pacify Fallujah after last week's killing of four US security contractors there. Meanwhile, an Italian news agency has quoted a local official in Nassiriya as saying some 15 Iraqi militiamen and civilians had been killed there in clashes with Italian soldiers. Italian officials said 12 Italian soldiers were wounded. The militiamen are said to be supporters of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, accused of leading a wave of confrontations with occupying coalition forces. 48 Iraqis and nine coalition soldiers were killed in fighting between occupying troops and Sadr's militiamen in Baghdad and Najaf on Sunday. And the US military has said attackers on Monday killed four US Marines in al-Anbar province west of Baghdad, while three U.S. soldiers were killed in separate attacks in a Shi'ite area of Baghdad on Monday and Tuesday.

[MEG33]

They've crossed the rail line into the city.Moving on in.

[Jim Noble]

wretchard is a freeper who has had his own blog for about a year.

He does not provide much bio info about himself, I do not think he has a formal military background.

I have found Belmont Club to be part of my ever-growing list of essential daily reading.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Only if everyone gets in a hurry.

Read the links referenced above.

[MEG33]

We are moving into the city..Fox news

[ought-six]

"Its going to be very bloody. If we have to kill thousands to save the area, so be it. A war is no place for the faint of heart, the squeamish and the cowardly."

Yup.

[r9etb]

The bulk of the coalition force has remained on Fallujah's edge, apparently held at bay by tough resistance from anti-American fighters against Marine forays probing the outskirts.

I doubt our guys are "at bay." I'm more willing to bet that our guys are being patient so that the salamikazes will keep sending more targets fighters into the area.

[Dog]

Travis wretchard is a freeper..

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Meanwhile on the other side of town......

geez...no one in the media is watching the other side.....Hmmm??

So if the terrorists are watching the media... they should be just where we want them.....

[Travis McGee]

The Belmont Club is written at the very highest level, as far as my brain can detect. I'm impressed. Very.

[Travis McGee]

I'm quite taken with his analysis.

[Dog]

MEG this may only be a feint.

[TexKat]

CNN: 20 US deaths and 60 Iraqi deaths since Sunday April 4,2004.

Fox News: Marines moving into Fallujah in a big way, they have destroyed 3 houses. They have met heavy resistance. Followers of al-Sadr are joining in.

8 U.S. Troops, 30 Iraqis Die in Fighting

Shiite Cleric Vows to Resist U.S. Capture

Rumsfeld Backs More Iraq Troops if Needed

[AmericanInTokyo]

unless you disagree with me that this is not 'minor hostilities', and you don't agree that North Korea and remaining AQ in Afghanistan/Pakistan were/are as much as or even more of a threat than the Ba'athists in Iraq, I'd say we don't differ too much on our viewpoint.

and of course, like you, I dont believe the Prez 'lied' about WMD..however he was apparantly misled and/or we have had very cruddy intelligence (which has post facto been accepted by nearly everybody nowadays).

By the way, here is the text of the aircraft speech:

Admiral Kelly, Captain Card, officers and sailors of the USS Abraham Lincoln, and my fellow Americans: Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country.

I would say we are both securing the country but we are not yet clear of "major combat operations", not by a long shot.

[Momaw Nadon]

Let's call this one Operation Passover.

If a house in Fallujah isn't marked with lamb's blood by now, it's too late.

[AmericanInTokyo]

They have met heavy resistance

As I said to another poster here, THIS WAR IS NOT OVER YET. Let's hope we win it, once and for all.

[r9etb]

They have to move them around rapidly to defend against Marine probing attacks and feints. Thanks to the our electronic warfare guys, they now have no communication and will experience rapid loss of cohesion and breakdown. Then it's a turkey shoot.

Good points. Couple that with my speculation that the salamikazes will likely rush to reinforce their "tough resistance," and your salami shoot is ready to go.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This is the CLEANUP Detail!!!!

[daybreakcoming]

Can we call those innocent who harbor and let exist terrorists? Those innocents who have not lifted a finger against these terrorists?

Do you think our own Revolutionary War was bloodless and only soldiers died?

[Cap Huff]

You've thought it through too, I see. I do hope this is similar to what is going on. Overwhelming strength sometimes takes the form of steady, relentless, crushing pressure. It doesn't all have to be bombs bursting.

I have no real expertise in such strategy/tactics, but I think I can tell when a plan has been reasonably thought through.

[MEG33]

May God watch over our armed forces and bless their mission.