[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Fighting across Iraq has caused about 70 U.S. and coalition combat deaths since April 1, Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told reporters at a Baghdad news conference. The general estimated enemy casualties to be "10 times" over coalition forces' losses during that period.

Kimmitt said the coalition's cease-fire should not be construed as an indication that enemy resistance in Fallujah has eroded the Marines' will and ability to fight. "With regards to the question whether the Marines have stopped fighting because they've run out of fight, I can tell you that there is nothing further from the truth," the general emphasized. "The fact is that the Marines are ready, on order, to continue the operations to complete the destruction of enemy forces in Fallujah."

The Marines, he added, are "more than capable, they are more than equipped, they are more than armed" to do the job.

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"I hope all recognize the attitude, confidence, courage and love of the modern day warrior. Get the word out, those magnificent soldiers are to be held in high regard and to be spoken of with the highest respect, they are nothing short of Magnificent, they are with out a doubt the finest fighting organization this world has and will ever see.

The United States Marine Corps."

 

~ e-mail from a friend in Iraq to feinswinesuksass, posted 4/12/04

[ZULU]

DELENDA EST FALLUJAH

It doesn't matter how many more insurgents are killed. As long as Fallujah can continue to exist, flaunting U.S. power and Iraqi central control, the insurgents are achieving their objective. Our marines are more than capable of handling this, but the casualties from a surgical operation would be high among our own people.
Allowing this nest of vipers to continue without immediate
retaliation is providing an incentive to anti-western forces everywhere.

I think we should bomb the city out, along the same lines employed against NAZIs in WW2. Its the only consequences they comprehend. It will lower OUR casualties which is really all I really care about.

[JeeperFreeper]

Good post. Thanks for updates. The surrogates of Bremer et al. evidently are trying to talk the terrorists to death. In the meantime, American casualties mount, the insurgents rest and organize. As near as I can tell, the Bremer strategy is to avoid, at all costs, hurting the feelings of islamic terrorists. The State Department types abhor a pouty, teary eyed jihadist. Something like that might interfere with Bremer's cocktail and lecture tour later, not to mention a book contract and appointment at a "think" tank. An assault will be costly, but will put an end to Fallujah as hotbed and resource for terrorism. Merely dancing about the edge, taking casualties cures nothing, but gives encouragement to the enemy.

[TexasRepublic]

You cannot negotiage with terrorists. WWPD? (what would Patton do?)

[pickemuphere]

Big "Hearts and Minds" Bump

[Tailgunner Joe]

A U.S. soldier from the 1st Cavalry Division carries
an Iraqi boy off the Baghdad-Fallujah highway.
-- Nicolas Asfouri / AFP / Getty Images