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

AFP ^ | Fri, Apr 30, 2004 | AFP

[Dog]

I'll say this upfront to all of you ....I'm not happy about what is going on in Fallujah .....but will take a wait and see attitude.

Something happened.....and I can't put my finger on it..........this Iraqi General came out of left field to suddenly.....I see wretchard in his blog is a tad confused also.

Oceanview you asked what I thought....I think we have left Special Ops and Special Forces behind in Fallujah.

[kellynla]

Bump to read later.
Thanks, Ernest

[jpsb]

Yea, that is make take too. I am being to see the Iraqis strategy here.

One city at a time raise hell and get concessions from the superior Americans forces. The Iraqis know the US does not want to go house to house, so they can force the US to the negotiating table one city at a time. Sunnis in their cities, Shiites in their cities each trying to get the upper hand over the other. Meanwhile the US avoids major engagements but must suffer low intensity warfare against our troops.

But the real losers are the terrorists, who will slowly be eliminated from Iraq one city at a time.

Might work out well for us and Iraq over the long haul, if the Iraqis can be trusted to eliminate the terrorists once they are given control over a city. Fallujah will be the test for the Sunnis, Sadar City (Bagdad) for the Shiites, which, my guess is the next test.

[Gucho]

"if the insurgents and this military unit become indistinguishable, then I agree we've been had."

Not at all-then we let the USMC finish cleaning houe.

[elfman2]

If we’re simply delaying the collapse of Fallujah until the FPA is ready to police it, that would be wonderful. Perhaps there’s hope.

[jpsb]

see 83

[Dog]

. I had no idea that there were Iraqi troops training in Jordan.

I remember reading something about that force training in Jordan.

Let me see what I can dig up..

[oceanview]

yeah but, the "house" will have gotten MUCH bigger if that comes to pass. right now, we have shaped the battlefield in fallujah to narrow the insurgents into 2 or 3 neighboorhoods. we focus on those for snipers, gunship attacks, laser guided bombing, etc. if we turn this thing over, and the sh*t hits the fan all over the city, what are we going to do?

[oceanview]

yes, nothing major, but WABC radio made a point to mention it was taking place DURING the press conference.

[jpsb]

"then is it worth a front assault and a house to house engagement"

never, but it mught be worth some B52's or lots of heavy artillery.

[Captain Kirk]

Didn't Reagan say that military options were "on the table" when he "redeployed" the troops from Lebanon? BTW, I think that Reagan was right to to this....but that is another issue.

[oceanview]

indeed Dog, "something" happened to change the approach. You are exactly right, its confusing and its hard to put a finger on it.

[jpsb]

checkout 83, the light just turned on.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

You made the same connection on the Jordan attack that I did after reading the note!

Wonder when the commanders in Baghdad are going to have a televised briefing that might be viewable over here. Of course they may prefer to let the press continue with all of their wild statements. To discredit the press to some degree perhaps?

[Captain Kirk]

Well...the "Republican Guard" insurgents you identify should feel right at home, right now since a former "Republican Guard" general has now been in charge of the city, right?

[Dog]

You are somewhat correct.....we are playing the Sunni's against the Shia. Fallujah will not be settled until you hear that there is a settlement in Najaf.

I saw a report that we might allow a force of Iraqis to patrol Najaf so we don't have to.....see a pattern? We are putting the Iraqis out front.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think we have attritued the bad guys and have the remainder cornered and I don't think all of the Marines are leaving.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Marines leaving? You believe the press reports also?