Posted on 11/05/2004 8:51:12 AM PST by Jeff Blogworthy
American troops in Fallujah have made loudspeaker announcements and handed out leaflets urging civilians to leave the city ahead of an expected assault.
US soldier A US soldier trains at a camp outside Fallujah
The move comes as troops prepare for a major assault on rebel strongholds in Fallujah and nearby Ramadi.
The soldiers warned they would arrest any man under the age of 45 found trying to leave or enter the city.
Roads around Fallujah have been blocked and the city has been battered by US air strikes in preparation for the offensive.
Hospital officials said air strikes overnight had killed three people and wounded four others, while troops continue to shell insurgents, who have responded with rocket-propelled grenade fire.
Most of the 300,000 population of Fallujah have already fled and US marines say they are awaiting orders from President George W Bush and Ayad Allawi, the Iraqi interim prime minister, before beginning the attack.
Mr Allawi is in Europe to meet EU leaders today and is expected to return with an agreed reconstruction package.
The EU is offering Iraq an £11.5 million aid package to support the country's January elections and the criminal justice system.
Earlier, Mr Allawi met Tony Blair and both men emphasised that the elections must go ahead.
Mr Blair said: "These people that are trying to create circumstances of chaos and instability in Iraq are doing so because of their fear of the democratic process."
pattyjo,
Hey, kicking elitist, socialist liberal butt happens to be one of my favorite things. :)
People keep asking me (or telling me) how things are going to be over the next four years. Sometimes they're just challenging me to make some representation about how wonderful things will be now that President Bush was re-elected. I can't give them that assurance. The next four years will be tough, and we may have dark moments and grief. After all, there are terrorists out there trying to kill us, and there are rogue states like Iran and North Korea to deal with.
I feel better knowing that we have a leader in President Bush who understands that however dangerous the world may be, it is infinitely more so if we don't have the resolve to fight for it. Thank YOU for joining the fight.
It was not only the US elections that qualify as political considerations in the timing of this. Part, also, was that the Iraqi government itself had to be involved and engaged in this in order that they gain the respect and credibility of the populace after it is complete. If the US had done this by ourselves, that would not be accomplished, and in the grand scheme of things, it is far more important that the Iraq gvt have support, than that the US purge this nest...
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In addition, it gave more time for more of the hornets to get into the nest, methinks... I'm happy now with the way this has been engineered... Pray that the operation goes even better than hoped for.
It is Bombadan after all...
It's about time to kick this Islamofascist ass. Don't to thank the Marines and soldiers serving in Iraq or active duty. Probably a christmas gifts would be nice. Being a former Navy Corpsman we appreciate it.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
- T h e o d o r e R o o s e v e l t , " C i t i z e n i n a R e p u b l i c " , A p r i l 2 3 , 1 9 1 0
It's about time to kick this Islamofascist ass. Don't forget to thank the Marines and soldiers serving in Iraq or active duty. Probably a christmas gifts would be nice. Being a former Navy Corpsman we appreciate it.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
- T h e o d o r e R o o s e v e l t , " C i t i z e n i n a R e p u b l i c " , A p r i l 2 3 , 1 9 1 0
Give 'em he**, men!!!!!
BOy, that sounds like a lot of MONEY! The wisdom of Zia-ul-Haq comes to mind: "Peanuts!"
Bush wins, Arafat dies, Fallujah about to be retaken.
Not a good week for terrorists.
Terrorism is in retreat!!!
When I hear someone who is on our side be so dense as to wholly misunderstand the way to win the war, I am greatly saddened. SuziQ is right about the way our military has conducted this operation, and the only way to really achieve victory in Iraq is to allow their own government to become a credible force there. The past six months and more have been a brilliant attempt to do this, and we will have to be patient for a little more time to discover whether we can leave Iraq in a year or whether it will be ten more years. It all hinges NOT on whether we defeat the terrorists in Fallujah, but on whether the Iraqi government is stabilized. You act like someone who has played a lot of video games and shoot'em ups but have no clue as to how a war is actually wrapped up. Sorry you feel that way, but I'm glad you honestly support our troops, and I understand your emotional reaction to this situation. We may, and probably will, lose more of our brave men in this battle to take Fallujah, but the way we have invested our time and patience there has a much better chance of long term success, and fewer overall losses, than your plan.
ma...ma....ma...moab
the problem being, who's civilians and who's the bad guys?
Doogle
I think we shouldn't gloat at loss of lives--either or our own or Iraqis. This is an unfortunate battle, and we should pray for everyone involved. I'm relatively new here, but sometimes I'm disappointed in the tone of my fellows on this board. People are people, people. Bloodshed may be a necessary fate, but should never be met with a gleeful tone. This is a somber occasion, not a Maypole dance. Let's get serious, and start praying for our brave soldiers who are about to suffer casualties within their ranks, and pray for the innocents who may also fall into the line of fire. This is a time to invoke the spirit of God, not the spirit of MTV.
Once they start scattering like rats...send in my favorite baby to clean 'em up......A-10 Warthog.
my understanding is that the Iraqi troops will be right along side our troops...thats whats being done
Doogle
LET GOD SORT 'EM OUT!
I'm not following this: "get out, and by the way, if you're under 45 we'll arrest you"? Either we're sending conflicting messages or the author of this piece isn't describing the situation correctly.
Probably means detained and searched on suspicion of being an insurgent. If he can prove he isn't he'll be released.
Fallujah has festered for all too long, and I am glad to see that President Bush will exercise the political will to resolve this situation.
Soon, we will have to make the same decision with Iran before the mullahs have the bomb, and that is an operation that we cannot allow to fail.
Toby Keith, Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue
Exactly. They cannot afford to let any terrorists to sneak out of that place with the older men, women and kids.
If the terrorists will NOT let the innocents out, that may be the final straw that will lead whatever innocent men are in the city to turn on the bad guys themselves.
After the operation, they'll vet the prisoners and figure out who is who.
That's a humane and prudent approach.
The innocents were told to get out days ago. There are none left that are innocent. The waiting has been a last call roundup for the big smoke out.
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