Update of Fallujah (Report from the front by FOX News analyst Paul Vallely)

Benador News ^ | January 23, 2005 | Paul Vallely

[quidnunc]

I spent all last Tuesday in Fallujah with the Marines. These are the activities there.

Lt. Gen. John Sattler, commander, First Marine Expeditionary Force (l-MEF), briefed the Pentagon press corps Jan. 18 on the state of operations in Fallujah

• Citizens of Fallujah are returning to the city and returning to work.

• Prime Minister Allawi gave the go ahead for citizens to return on Dec. 23.

• That first day, 921 citizens returned to the city, 12 government workers showed up, 192 contractors signed contracts to clear debris and help with the water situation and there were six visits to humanitarian sites.

• A little more than three weeks later, on Monday, 9,400 citizens went through the same five checkpoints, 640 government workers showed up to help the Coalition team, 400 contractors came to work and there were 2,000 visits to humanitarian assistance sites to pick up food, water, blankets and other necessities.

• Heads of households are being paid a $200 humanitarian assistance payment to help them buy necessities and reestablish themselves.

• The Iraqi government is directing security, and is in close partnership with Multi-National Forces.

• Eight battalions of Iraqi Security Forces are inside Fallujah (six from the Ministry of Defense and two police battalions from the Ministry of the Interior).

• Three U.S. Marine battalions and a regimental combat team headquarters are stationed in Fallujah, working side-by-side with Iraqi forces.

• Iraqi security forces will take the lead in providing security for the polling sites throughout al Anbar province.

• Iraqi forces will have the actual physical security inside the polling sites; U.S. forces will be where they are needed in the numbers they are needed.

-snip-

[blastdad51]

Sounds like a quagmire to me.

[Adrastus]

Wonder why these guys always report a different picture that than the regular press? You don't suppose Vallely and his like are just making it up, do you?

Pity we don't have an accurate unbiased press instead of the pissants we have. 'Spose they'll ever catch on to why they have a failing readership?

[DTogo]

Let's surrender and fire Rumsfeld quickly, before too much good happens.

[Bossy Gillis]

I wonder why this guy supported Kerry.

[scoastie]

are you kidding??

[quidnunc]

Bossy Gillis wrote: I wonder why this guy supported Kerry.

The author, Paul Vallely, is a retired general officer and has never indicated he supported Kerry.

You're thinking of Tom Vallely who was one of JF'nK's Vietnam buddies and a Kerry staffer of some sort.

[Doc91678]

In an article prior to this the Associated Press has admitted that they have hired biased reporters to report only the terrorists viewpoint.

I believe Mr. Vallely that things are going better in Fallujah. I also believe that things are a lot better than the media lets us know throughout Iraq.

However, it is what you want to believe that will matter in the long run. You can lead the horse to water, but you can't make them drink.

If you read the history of Post World War II, you will come to realize that the same things were happening then in Germany as they are occurring in Iraq.

[rdcorso]

The terrorist aren't there anymore and the streets were full of 2000 of their dead comrades not so long ago.I do believe we showed them.

[not2worry]

All I know is I am praying that the elections are an overwhelming success and the Iraqi people show up to defend, protect and promote their desire to move forward to democracy.

[claudiustg]

---All I know is I am praying that the elections are an overwhelming success and the Iraqi people show up to defend, protect and promote their desire to move forward to democracy.---

As long as no Jews vote...

[tinamina]

PAUL Vallely is a good guy who sadly lost his only son recently in a training accident, either Army or Marine, can't remember. He lives in Montana and does whatever he can for our troops, in memory of his son.

[abigkahuna]

Brig. Gen. Vallely? I met him many years ago. I was with a psyop unit and did a film to help with training the 7th going from heavy to light. Anyway Gen Vallely had a screening of the film I wrote, filmed, edited, etc. The unit had 18 mos to do it and never could. I came in and within a month had it done. Had equipment flown for me, etc..

I remember Gen. Vallely surrounded by Colonels galore. I was a lowly Sgt. But didn't care about the rank. I had already served combat arms in Germany andcame to psyops after college.

Anyway all I could think of about Gen Vallely was what I would call him--Big Vallely, after the old tv program.