Patrols to Begin in Fallujah; Weapon Stockpiles Endanger Najaf (DOD: Fallujah Ceasefire Details)

US DOD - American Forces Press Service ^ | April 25, 2004 | Jim Garamone

[Anti-Bubba182]

Patrols to Begin in Fallujah; Weapon Stockpiles Endanger Najaf

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2004 – City representatives in Fallujah have agreed to allow joint patrols by Iraqi and U.S. forces to begin in the city April 28, senior coalition officials said during a news conference in Baghdad today.

The coalition also is concerned about a "dangerous" situation in Najaf, as illegal militias are stockpiling weapons and ammunition in mosques, holy sites and schools, officials said.

Coalition senior spokesman Dan Senor said Coalition administrator Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III asked Iraqi journalists to spread the word of the dangerous situation in Najaf and the neighboring city of Kufa. Both areas are sacred to the majority Shiia. Supporters of Shiia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are stockpiling weapons and ammunition in these holy places. "It puts all law-abiding citizens of (Najaf) at risk," Senor said. "All individuals that are seeking a peaceful resolution of the situation there must not tolerate the stockpiling of weapons in mosques and in shrines and in schools."

Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7, said negotiations with representatives inside Fallujah have yielded some fruit. The Fallujans have extended the deadline for illegal heavy weapons turn-in to April 27. To date, few weapons have been turned in to Marines and Iraqi security forces ringing the city.

The representatives also agreed to joint patrols of Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, Iraqi Police Service and coalition forces beginning April 28. The Fallujan representatives agreed to broadcast the information via secular means and in local mosques.

The representatives also will broadcast "the information that anyone carrying a weapon in Fallujah except legitimate security forces … will be considered hostile," Kimmitt said.

The coalition agreed to allow 67 extended families back in to the city today.

The Fallujan representatives' track record has not been particularly good, officials said. The enemy forces in Fallujah, which consist of former regime supporters and foreign fighters, continued to violate the cease-fire. Kimmitt said Marines experienced eight small-arms attacks and five indirect-fire incidents in the past 24 hours. No heavy weapons turned in to the coalition in the past 24 hours, he added.

Kimmitt said the coalition hopes to solve the problems in Fallujah peacefully, but that there is more than enough military power in the area if that is called for. He said it is time for the Fallujan leaders to start delivering results. "The way we can trust and have confidence in those representatives is, quite simply, let's start seeing delivery," he said.

In the south, anti-coalition forces launched attacks against the oil terminal in the northern Persian Gulf. Navy small-boat patrols stopped the attacks before any damage was done to Iraq's critical oil infrastructure, but two sailors were killed and four were wounded. The sailors died when they intercepted a dhow trying to get close to the oil terminal. The crew of the dhow set off explosives that flipped the small inflatable boat.

Patrols and offensive operations occur in the rest of Iraq, Kimmitt said.

Biography:
Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III

Related Sites:
Coalition Provisional Authority
Combined Joint Task Force 7

Related Article:
Coalition Following Fallujah Agreement, Enemy Not Complying

News Archive

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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2004/n04252004_200404252.html

[Anti-Bubba182]

This looks like a situation where we have set up the ambush of US Marines to vindicate an action that should already be over. This will almost certainly be taken as a sign of weakness and a opportunity for the opposition to cache weapons and disperse only to start again at their convenience.

Related thread:

CEASEFIRE IN FALLUJAH

[leadpenny]

Thanks for posting. Bumped for later.

[First_Salute]

The importance of the Iraqi courts system, that it prosecute the very detailed case against "Mr." Sadr, has won a new day in court.

As much as I have believed that "Mr." Sadr should have been immediately shot, in the days before he burrowed into his hole in Najaf, I would still like very much to see "Mr." Sadr get the full impact from their courts.

Especially, again, given all the work that has been done to prove the case against him. See: How Iraqi judge cornered Sadr, The Australian, April 17, 2004, by Peter Wilson, posted to Free Republic on April 19, 2004, by Valin.

 

[M Kehoe]

I would still like very much to see "Mr." Sadr get the full impact from their courts.

An ideal situation, if not turned into a circus, or the impact from the court perceived as weak.

5.56mm

[First_Salute]

Yep.

[snopercod]

I heard somewhere that the officer in command of the troops in Falluja said something like "We were blindsided by something completely unexpected." (my paraphrase).

I took that to mean that some of the Iraqi security forces started firing on U.S. Marines from behind.

[elfman2]

" I took that to mean that some of the Iraqi security forces started firing on U.S. Marines from behind."

That’s a big leap. Maybe true, maybe not.

[jocko12]

It may be time to start taking out some klinktoon GENRALS.

[First_Salute]

John,

This is right down your alley.

The roadside and trail IED problem, as several times previously mentioned, requires the presence of more of our guys in the bush, on long range patrol, setting up ambushes; and also long overdue, several Bears in the Air.

From the Vietnam Era and very effective ---

O-1G Bird Dog (U.S.A.F. Museum, Wright-Patterson A.F.B., Dayton, Ohio)

The O-1G is a two-place observation and liaison aircraft developed from the commercial Cessna Model 170 in 1949. Originally designated as L-19s, "Bird Dogs" were used by the USAF, Army, and Marines for such tasks as artillery spotting, front-line communications, medical evacuation, and pilot training.

In Vietnam, O-1s were used by forward air controllers (FACS) for reconnaissance. A "FAC", often an experienced fighter pilot, was assigned to a specific geographical area, so that he could readily identify enemy activity. If a FAC observed enemy ground targets, he marked them with smoke rockets so they could be easily attacked by fighter-bombers. The FAC remained on the scene to report bombing results.

The USAF ordered more than 3,200 "Bird Dogs," most of which were built as L-19As between 1950 and 1959. The O-1G on display was transferred to the Museum in 1971.

O-2A Skymaster (U.S.A.F. Museum, Wright-Patterson A.F.B., Dayton, Ohio)

The O-2 is a military version of the Cessna Model 337 Super Skymaster. Distinguished by twin tail booms and tandem-mounted engines, it features a tractor-pusher propeller arrangement. Derived from the Cessna Model 336, the Model 337 went into production for the civilian market in 1965. In late 1966, the USAF selected a military variant, designated the O-2, to supplement the O-1 Bird Dog forward air controller (FAC) aircraft then operating in Southeast Asia. Having twin engines enabled the O-2 to absorb more ground fire and still return safely, endearing it to its crews. The O-2 first flew in Jan. 1967 and production deliveries began in March. Production ended in June 1970 after 532 O-2s had been built for the USAF.

Two series were produced: the O-2A and the O-2B. The O-2A was equipped with wing pylons to carry rockets, flares, and other light ordnance. In the FAC role the O-2A was used for identifying and marking enemy targets with smoke rockets, coordinating air strikes and reporting target damage. The O-2B was a psychological warfare aircraft equipped with loudspeakers and leaflet dispensers. It carried no ordnance.

The O-2A on display was assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang, South Vietnam in the late 1960s. It was transferred to the Museum in December 1982.

  

From Pilot Journal (past issues - no date mentioned at website) ---

Of course, and as usual, in my humble opinion.

 

[Anti-Bubba182]

I think that had to do with the killing and mutilation of the contractors in Fallujah. The Marines had expected to go into the place and hand out a pile of money to rebuild the place.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Piper PA-48 "Enforcer"

[kabar]

Afraid you are right. Once a Joint Patrol is ambushed, the Marines can then go in and finish the job. It may be a wise move politically, but no Marine should have to die for it. We should let the war up to the military instead of the politicians and diplomats.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Combat Crop Dusters

[Cannoneer No. 4]

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN: LOW-TECHNOLOGY AIRCRAFT AND LITTLE WARS

[Cannoneer No. 4]

[snopercod]

I'm not so sure. There is another article here on FR which stated that in Falluja "10% of the Iraqi security forces turned on the Marines, and 40% simply ran off."

[snopercod]

I know a guy at TIX who flys an O-1 (sans rocket tubes) if he's still able. He's probably 80 years old.

[snopercod]

Big leap maybe. I don't know the source of the 10% number. Maybe ONC can tell us.

[link]

[Valin]

An update on Fallujah
Falluja truce has 'weakened resistance'(Good News!)
aljazeera.net ^ | 25 April 2004 | NA


Posted on 04/25/2004 5:14:09 PM CDT by Dog
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1124286/posts

It appears that there has been a small falling out of friend inside Fallujah.

[First_Salute]

Bump.