The tactical situation in Fallujah has changed. The Marine cordon is reduced to the Al-Jawlan area roughly 2km. square. Rebels went or stayed there as the streets and alleys are too narrow for even Humvees, the Marines use John Deere Gators for resupply and evac.
Al-Jawlan civilians reduced from 40k to about 2k. Non-combatants are mainly local men protecting family homes and housing rebel wounded. Rebel forces attrited from about 3,500 3 weeks ago to about 300 foreigners and 400 local toughs. Most are wounded, all are starving.
Water and power cut off. Generators are out of fuel so most enemy sat. phone batteries are dead, ending command and control except by runner. Look down thermal shows groups of 5-20 moving often, many are carried, few heavy weapons being moved, probably depleted. Ammo dumps were destroyed by Spectre gunships.
A very grim place, heavy fetid odor from many rotting dead. Teams of Marine Scout/Snipers, 36th Battalion ICDC Kurds, and Army SF-led ICTF snipers hunting 24/7 while 2 Marine Battalions hold the cordon. Many have over 20 KIA. The Kurds are very good at closing with their targets, they want to kill them all, very respected by the Marines.
Local imams are now broadcasting calls for the rebels to surrender. Debate about whether or not to clean up the battlefield before the media sees it. I say let the world and all the jihadist wannabe trash see it....Carry on.
It sounds like 90% of that is a mixture of 4th person rumors and wishful thinking.
For those who dont believe our troops are dishing it out a lot worse than we are taking it ... here's another encounter between US forces and 'insurgents':
http://windsofchange.net/ The CSA wanted to share this email with you. The email was sent to GEN Bell, CG, USAREUR from MG Dempsey, Cdr, 1AD.
Sir,
read the rest! »
...I met yesterday outside Najaf with a 1LT from the Iron Dukes of 2-37
Armor who as tank company XO was leading a convoy of two platoons of tanks
on HETs from Al Kut in the east to Najaf in the west, a distance of about
175KM. As they passed through the town of Diwaniyah, they were ambushed by a group of insurgents--undoubtedly former regime soldiers with some military
training--with RPGs, heavy machine guns, and AK-47s. The Task Force Scouts
had passed through only 30 minutes earlier without contact, so this was a
well planned ambush of probably 50 or so organized in two and three man
teams.
The convoy suffered three soldiers KIA in the initial moments of the ambush -- one Iron Duke, one 2ACR cavalry trooper, and one transportation officer. The convoy immediately returned fire. They had several HUMMWVs in escort, and the tanks on the back of the HETs were manned with loaders and TCs on crew served weapons.
Within minutes of the ambush, one of the HETs was disabled, and the Lieutenant realized he would have to stand and fight to ensure he had everyone. The Iron Dukes "broke chains" as they described it, by essentially driving off the back of the HETs under fire to engage the enemy. In the course of the next hour, they fought their way out of Diwaniyah employing every weapon available to them including main gun. They got everyone and everything out with the exception of one HET.
Enemy BDA was 30 killed and an unknown number wounded.
A day after this fight, I received an email from CPT Thomas Moore, of the 1175th Transportation, who was the convoy commander. He wrote: "were it not for the courage and actions under fire of the 2ACR and 2-37 soldiers that
day, he is certain all his men would have been killed." He asked me if he
and his soldiers engaged in that fight with us could wear the 1AD combat
patch. I told him I'd be honored.
There are many such stories of courage under fire and just as many stories
of incredible compassion to the innocent...
Continuing mission, sir.
V/R Marty
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