Sweet!
Posted on 11/07/2004 6:36:26 PM PST by kattracks
NEAR FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Gunfire crackled from a nearby junkyard used by insurgents on Monday when a U.S. Marine tank company and infantry units began moving into a desert staging position for an expected offensive on Falluja. U.S. artillery pounded the rebel-held Sunni Muslim city overnight while tracer rounds and flares lit up the sky.
An electronic tracking device in a rear Humvee vehicle showed U.S. positions on the edge of Falluja, some 30 miles west of Baghdad.
"Shoemaker do you have your neck guard on? Scan the area," Gunnery Sargeant Christopher Garza told his tobacco-chewing machinegunner as 70-tontanks and amphibious transport vehicles traveled along deserted roads.
"If we get hit you just drive and we will do the rest," he told the driver.
The marines had been warned to stay alert for any suicide car bombers ramming American convoys.
Iraq (news - web sites)'s U.S.-backed interim government has vowed to break the back of a raging insurgency, particularly in Falluja, and help stabilize the country before elections scheduled for January.
For many of the marines, it marks the first time they will see major combat.
The U.S. military says 1,000 to 6,000 fighters -- Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) supporters and foreign Islamic militants led by Jordanian al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- are holed up in Falluja's alleyways and on rooftops.
"These insurgents are going to get a lot more than they bargained for," said Garza, 30, from Houston, Texas.
Wearing night vision goggles over their helmets, marines were ready with their M-16 rifles on the two-hour journey to the staging post, where headlights were kept off.
U.S. warplanes screamed overhead and AC-130 gunships with cannons and machineguns that sound like a giant drill pounded Falluja.
After their Humvees parked near M1A1 tanks, marines were told to take turns manning swivel machineguns on the dark green armored vehicles.
"Even though the tanks are positioned in front you still need to keep close watch," said tank company commander Captain Robert Bodisch.
The sound of thunder mixed with the air strikes as lightning illuminated tank cannons pointing toward Falluja.
"If we start getting mortared you need to get in the Humvee and close the door and stay there. And you need to get in and close the swivel hatch," Garza told his men.
United States General George Patton European commander said in 1944, "the enemy's guts will be grease for my tanks." I like his attitude. General 'Black Jack' Pershing's attitude was even better in the early 1900s in the Philipines fighting Islamic insurgents. Do a Google for details. Pershing was one tough SOB.
How do you know they never trained for urban pacification or "riot control"?
The sound of thunder mixed with the air strikes as lightning illuminated tank cannons pointing toward Falluja.
Sweet!
Sad part IMO is that the Insurgant Chief Cook and Bottle Washer probably left town with the women and kids yesterday.
I'm not certain Zarchawi was in Fallujah at all, but if he has been there, I don't know if he could or would have left.
The arab world has been building up Fallujah as the Great Arab Victory Over The Infidels since April. I don't think Zarchawi can flee their "Alamo" at the point of attack and keep face. I hope he genuinely seeks martyrdom, and we give it to him.
Remember the shock when the Arab world saw the videos of the smoking caves and scattered bodies?
Then there was the Arab worlds reaction when Saddam and his army was crushed so quickly and easily. Shocked silence and unbelief.
It's an IQ test for Zarqawi. If he thinks that he can hold Fallujah, then he'll stay there. If not, then he's moderately intelligent.
The difference was the lack of women's and children's body parts scattered in the caves of Tora Bora. The jihadists are counting on creating revulsion in the world by maximizing civilian casualties in Fallujah, in living color on world TV.
I wish they'd just lay waste to that pile of camel chit with Buffs and Lancers with Spectre doing the mopping up. Let the Troops sit back on the 3 mile perimeter and drink beer and watch the light show.....
Troops are gonna get this done .........hope they all come through it OK.
There is zero chance of the enemy holding one yard of Fallujah. Bush and the Marines have the same killer instinct at this time, I think. They are going to go for a total wipeout. Bush will not handcuff the commanders' tactics. I'm guessing the ROE state that if fire is taken from a mosque, it should immediately be stopped by any means.
I only want to see troops moving through smoking heaps of lifeless rubble.
If they try that I have no doubt the Iraqi government will launch it's own media campaign...and they have a lot they can show the world about dead women and children.
So as always it'll be a balance between the military and political considerations.
With troops paying the difference in their blood.
There always has and always will be a balance between political and military considerations, particularly in this nation. The military serves at the pleasure of the political. Not a great system at all but how we structured our Constitution.
Fallujah is going to be another touchstone battle name for the Marines.
"He was in the battle of Fallujah," will be said with great respect.
Marines who are not there tonight wish they were.
Hell, I wish I was there. Jets screaming overhead, artillery going out, thunder and lightning. Engines and smoke. What a dramatic "show" to observe and be part of!
I just pray the ROE are "permissive," and not too many Marines die fighting for structures which could have been detroyed first instead.
Amen on the rubble...
That's the type war a nation fights when they love their own warriors more than the fear the opinion of the world...
We have not yet reached that point..
Semper Fi
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