Fallujah pullback opportunity, not necessarily agreement to end fight: Abizaid (MUST READ!!!)

AFP ^ | Fri, Apr 30, 2004 | AFP

[Eurotwit]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The withdrawal of marines from Fallujah is "an opportunity, not necessarily an agreement" to end fighting for the city, the commander of US forces in Iraq (news - web sites) said, warning that military action may still be needed to root out foreign fighters.

General John Abizaid said the United States will not tolerate foreign fighters in the city, and will insist on heavy weapons coming off the streets and on freedom of movement for marines and Iraqi security forces.

He said it should be understood that "what we have there is an opportunity, and not necessarily an agreement."

"The opportunity is to build an Iraqi security force from former elements of the army that will work under the command of coalition forces and that will be mentored and work next to coalition forces," he told Pentagon (news - web sites) reporters in a video teleconference from Qatar.

"And I think we must be very careful in thinking that this effort to build an Iraqi capacity will necessarily calm down the situation in Fallujah tonight or over the next several days," he said.

Abizaid said all military options remained "on the table."

"It may still be necessary to conduct very robust military operations in Fallujah. We hope we don't have to do that," he said.

The general, who heads the US Central Command, singled out the need to get rid of foreign fighters -- and in particular Abu Mussab Zarqawi, who he said had used Fallujah as a base of operations.

"This idea that there will be a safe haven for him (Zarqawi) is absolutely unacceptable. Nor will we or our Iraqi partners allow foreign fighters to freely roam the country and attack indiscriminately and use Iraqi civilians as shields from which to conduct military operations," he said.

He said even the best Iraqi forces would be unable to bring Zarqawi's fighters under control.

"So we will have to eliminate that enemy in a way that does not allow that force to challenge us throughout Iraq and other places at other times. No doubt some will infiltrate out, and some will find other means to escape," he said.

Strikingly, Abizaid made no specific mention of former members of the old regime's security apparatus who are believed to be leading the insurgency in the Sunni heartland, including Fallujah.

The omission suggested that commanders hope the new force led by a former Iraqi major general will neutralize Baathist insurgents.

The general said he did not know Major General Jassem Mohamed Saleh, who will lead the Iraq Protection Army, a new Iraqi security force that will take over positions inside the city from the marines.

Iraqis cheered and waved flags as Saleh entered the city Friday, as marines began their withdrawal from the city, pulling down barbed wire defenses from around the soda factory that had served as their headquarters in the city's southern industrial area.

"Yes, there is some room for optimism there," Abizaid said. "But the details of how we will build an Iraqi security capacity there will take some time. We need to have some patience."

"It is a possible breakthrough, but certainly the conditions that must be met are foremost on our minds, and that has to do with the restoring of law and order in Fallujah," he said.

Asked about the fate of those who killed four US contractors in the city March 31, setting off the confrontation, Abizaid said getting them was a "non-negotiable objective."

"Now, I think it would be a stretch for you to say they are in Fallujah. I can't tell you that, nor can anyone else," he added.

[GmbyMan]

thanks Peach. You are invaluable.

[Blood of Tyrants]

IMHO, it is Bush's desire to not raise the US body count any higher than it already is for this month. Tomorrow begins a new month and the casulty count is reset. Also, after the complete failure of the Iraqi army and civil defense, they had to be "culled" of cowards and infiltrators. The past few days softened the terrorists up. The next few will finish them off.

[oceanview]

the attrition rate of the insurgents, just from airpower and snipers alone, must be very high. they cannot re-supply.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sadr is trying to help us:

Iraqi Cleric: America Is Enemy of Islam (Sadr speaks )

[doug from upland]

The quote is not from anywhere in the Koran (or Quran).
Chapter 9 verse 11 actually says "But if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, they are your brethren in faith; and we make the communications clear for a people who know."

[oceanview]

most of our losses are coming from car bombs and IEDs against patrols and checkpoints. air power and snipers don't result in many casualties, neither do Abrams tanks.

there is some other factor at work here.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I watching the briefing on C-SPAN , he had some great high quality charts, gave high level comments, we need to hear from the guys actually running the show in Fallujah to know what is going on. The Press had the callers on C-SPAN stirred up pretty well.

[Michael Barnes]

pssst

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I pinged backhoe, he may have done one.

[1234]

...But if we're going to talk about perceptions and winning people's hearts and minds, which is really the point of this entire conflict, this Fallujah operation is a defeat.

we wimped out causa human shields-wise types predicted we wouldn't be able to 'gut it out' causa PC considerations-this isn't the way to instill respect by the 'diaper-heads'....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think you are totally wrong!

[jpsb]

I think you are correct on that score, but there are lots of young men in the middle east that hate te USA, so the recruitment pool is large.

Which the Sunnis, back in charge of Fallujah and having earned the respect of the Marine commander with thier ferce resistance, I expect the terrorists to change their base of opperation. Bagdad?

[GRAZYNA]

I HAVE QURAN IN FRONT OF ME AND I CAN'T FIND THIS VERSET.SEEMS, LIKE IT DOESN'T EXIST IN QURAN.

[jpsb]

Ok, I might be, but why do you think we didn't take Fallujah? The commanders were pretty upfront about our objectives at the start of this operation, so what is your take?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Everyone needs to go over and read this:

Iraqi Snipers with special forces at work with Marines now in Falluhaj

[Gucho]

"But what scares me most is the majority of negative posts on FR today."

Yes, too many wobbly kids out here today.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See above link.

[shield]

bmp

[Reborn]

I keep telling you that the attack is coming this weekend. Bush will let slip the dogs of war tomorrow or Sunday at the latest.

Huh? Tell us more.... ;)