Posted on 10/14/2004 3:27:27 PM PDT by jmc1969
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- American troops and Iraqi special forces launched a major operation in Falluja late Thursday aimed at disrupting future attacks by insurgents who control the volatile city, the U.S. military said.
U.S. warplanes pounded targets in the Sunni Triangle city, lighting up the nighttime sky and jolting a city that has been a hotbed for the insurgency for months.
1st Lt. Lyle Gilbert, a spokesman for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, said Marines, Army soldiers and Iraqi special forces were participating "in and near the city of Falluja."
The ground forces were being backed up by fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter gunships, he said.
"We've been looking forward to this for a long time," Gilbert said from from the U.S. base Camp Falluja.
"It's a long time in coming, and this operation is going to set the stage for Fallujans and for the Iraqi people to go out and elect their government and live in freedom and security as they deserve," he said.
Hours earlier, Iraqi national security adviser Kasim Dawood said the government was preparing to "smash" the deeply entrenched insurgency in Falluja if city officials failed to turn in militants.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I guess Allawi decided to tell Kerry to go to H#LL.
YEEEEEEHAAAAAA!!!!! I caught this on CNN when it broke just before 4pm here. Let out a loud WHOOP when I heard it.
May God grant swift victory to our troops and the Iraqis fighting with them.
But I thought there wouldn't be any major military actions before the elections. SUCKER!
May God be looking over our Marines!
God bless our armed forces!
The Times letters page has also been full of the local dimwits responding to the story with their usual vacant-brained Bush bashing. Snookered again by STRATEGERY.
I am with you on this. If it were up to me, I would let it stop until Falluja was flat and dead.
I am told that the "get some" yell, is one of the things that the Troops shout to those going out to a battle.
Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.
-by Msgr. James H. O'Neill 12/8/1944 (the Chief Chaplain of the Third Army throughout the five campaigns on the Staff of General Patton)
http://www.pattonhq.com/prayer.html
1st Lt. Gilbert, all of you have been looking forward to it for a long time, along with many here on FR and in the country. We simply couldn't understand why you stopped the first time around and have been wondering why it took you so long to get it started again.
Godspeed to you and all of your friends, Lt!
Hey, Joe, maybe you know something I don't..?
Get some is a marine thing. No soldiered say that.
Indeed. Fallujah had festered for long enough; it is time to resolve this situation.
After the triumph of elections in Afghanistan for the first time in 5 millenia, it would be wonderful to see them in Iraq, from one end to the other, extending to every man the right to have a say in his own government.
Taking out the garbage bump.
BTTT!
May I add my "Amen!" to the prayer you posted?
It's perfect!
They should level the place.
I am sorry, when mentioning our guys and gals over there,regardless of their branch of service, I have gotten into the habit of calling them "Troops'.
Well, I wasn't talking about that, but I think a purist would say troops are soldiers. But these things evolve. Soldiers were "dog faces," "dough boys," "GIs", and now most seem to use the term "Joes." They talk about the "Joe Net" (the rumor mill), and how "Joe" can break, fix, screw up, and figure out darn near anything.
Understatement of the year!
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