"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."
The people of Fallujah have been leaving the city for weeks. I follow articles produced by Marine journalist, and approved newspaper articles posted at the Marine Corps. web site.
As usual folks only get a smiget of what really happens over there. I am not in the least critizing your and other notes of who has left etc.. Just want to emphasize for those still in this thread, that Iraqis did not just start to leave the city. It has been an ongoing thing for many weeks. Also our Marines have not left the area earlier on.
They simply had keep the city mostly surronded for quite a long time. So don't think this Fallujah operation just "started to ramp up", it has been in the making since April. We simply have been waiting for the IG to come to the conclusion that there is no way to negotiate with all the different anti-Iraqi elements that have gathered in Fallujah since perhaps summer of last year.
Thanks for putting things in perspective!
Marine Uncle, Thank you for further information. And, I appreciate your more serious tone. It's nice to see a more mature, sensible voice on this subject.
My guess is that it's a lot easier for the Iraqi government to fully commit to the full out battle now that they know their powerful ally will not yank the rug out from under them--at least for another four years.
Hear Hear. I hope all those who doubt the wisdom of the course we have taken on this battlefield at least see your remarks, so they will not be totally surprised when they see what has actually been happening there.