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."
Yeah, but the difference is in the inclination. The troublemakers in Fallujah aren't old farts like you and me!
On the serious side, I may be wrong. There are supposed to be members of the former Iraqi army involved as well as some of the older clerics. There has to be a good reason for the 45 age limit...
They said arrest not kill. They will probably be held and sorted later.
Women and children most affected.
Yup. Actually, this could be made very easy. Get the civies out, move everyone back about 20 miles, and just drop 1 bomb. No muss, no fuss, no US loses.
Translation to males under 45: Surrender or die.
Makes perfect sense to me.
Pay back time. Wipe em out.
It's kick *** time
Sending prayers for the troops
shoot first and thin out the herd.
Should've done exactly this 5-6 months ago, but I suppose that election considerations got in the way...sigh.
Give civis that warning first. Then the leathernecks have easier kill-or-not decisions, easier to lean toward "kill."
Lord, please protect OUR fighting men and women during this battle and bring them home safe.
Yes, but if you've lived to be 45 you probably arent stupid enough to shoot at American troops.
Know someone who is in Fallujah right now...they are preparing for a large battle there...remember these troops in your prayers...
Prayers going up for our brave men and women, as well as our brave Iraqi allies. Praying for the proctection of the innocents...........Now let's go kick terrorist butt!
pattyjo
Praying for troops on the ground there, and incoming.
The women, children and elderly aren't the terrorists pretending to be civilians
Men under 45 will be rounded up and shorted out later who are the good guys and who are the bad guys
Whoever is arrested has a better chance of living then staying in that place
Oh great, so we let the next generation of fanatics live.
I guess someone needs to remind everyone here that women were the ones who lead the school hostage, torture and massacre event in Russia.
GW starts spending some of that political capital we gave him.
Maybe some Iraqi politico owns the company that makes false IDs in Fallujah. Create distrust of any man over 45? Maybe we're looking for a couple specific leaders whom we know are over 45.
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