US marines reset their big guns around Fallujah

AFP ^ | May 02, 2004 | Staff

[Anti-Bubba182]

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (AFP) May 02, 2004 Artillery fire shook this dusty military base outside Fallujah Sunday as US marines realigned their big guns after leaving some of their positions in the flashpoint city.

A dozen explosions echoed across the marine base as artillery gunners fired 155 mm Howitzers cannons to ensure the accuracy of their targeting, said Major T.V. Johnson.

"They are realigning the guns as the troops shift positions," said Johnson, a spokesman for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

He said the exercise would ensure the troops on the ground can rapidly call for back-up fire if they come under attack from "the bad guys."

Since Friday, the marines who have besieged Fallujah for almost a month, have been gradually moving back from positions around the city to allow a new Iraqi force, the Fallujah Brigade, to take over security duties.

[Starve The Beast]

Works for me. Eventually we'll be putting Iraqi forces into places like this anyway, and this is good trial run. I'd love to see this work; Iraqi military keeping the peace would be the best possible scenario.

And if they screw up, US Marines will be right behind them to administer the only diplomacy that Muslims seem to understand.

[Anti-Bubba182]

If they screw up the artillery is ready.

[Cobra64]

God Bless our guys. I wish to Heaven I were thirty years younger. Why is it that the military despises mature logistics folks like me who know how to maneuver supplies; and the supply and support initiatives. If I can run supplies for an $11B company, why does the US Government rely on an 18 year old twit to work on the logistics.?

[ancient_geezer]

why does the US Government rely on an 18 year old twit to work on the logistics.?

Prettier to look at maybe? ;O)

[spetznaz]

Probably because the 18yr old will not make even the slightest squeek if told to do something that smacks against logic. If you were told to do something that either did not make sense, or could be done more efficiently, you'd probably say something due to your decades of experience.

There are people who do not like their orders getting questioned ....especially correctly questioned.

[Blue Highway]

It's a good thing to know we got Howitzers ready to fire if the brigade decides to get wet feet.

[ancient_geezer]

Probably because the 18yr old will not make even the slightest squeek if told to do something that smacks against logic.

That too, but being prettier counts for at least a bonus point or two.

[Starve The Beast]

Here's the sitch:

The Prez wants everybody to chill out. Liberals and Euros want mega-US-Deaths. The Iraqis want the US out, and are simultaneously afraid that the US will pull out (go figure). The Saudis want this to never have happened, as do most Arab "leaders". The UN has gone to ground until we all forget that they were sucking on Saddam's left nipple.

And, through all this, the US Marine Corps continues to do the heavy lifting.

Thanks again, guys.

[Starve The Beast]

If I can run supplies for an $11B company, why does the US Government rely on an 18 year old twit to work on the logistics.?

'Cause he's 18.

Don't you wish you were that young and stupid again...? ;)