Feel the power of ping!
Posted on 06/28/2005 1:50:38 AM PDT by HAL9000
BAGHDAD, June 28 (Reuters) - U.S. Marines launched a major operation in western Iraq on Tuesday, dispatching 1,000 troops against suspected insurgents in the western Euphrates river valley."Operation Saif (Sword) began early this morning to root out terrorists and foreign fighters living along the Euphrates River between the cities of Haditha and Hit," the Marines said in a statement.
Marine and army units were backed by a company of 100 Iraqi soldiers, it said.
The operation, in an area 200 km (125 miles) northwest of Baghdad, is at least the fourth battalion-sized operation the Marines have launched in towns in the Western desert during the past two months.
Earlier this month they staged Operation Spear against militants in the border town of Karabila.
Marines said they killed dozens of insurgents in that operation, but they also destroyed much of the town of 60,000 with air strikes and street-to-street battles before abandoning it at the end of the five-day operation.
The Euphrates valley has emerged as a strategic area in the counter-insurgency war, which has worsened since a Shi'ite- and Kurdish-led government took power two months ago.
Foreign militants responsible for a worsening campaign of suicide bombings are believed to enter the country near where the river crosses from Syria, and train in safe houses in towns along the valley.
I spelled Reuters wrong.
yes you did, that is... Abu Ben Rueters
No ping? Where's the love, man?!? ;-)
but they also destroyed much of the town of 60,000
yea, mud huts scattered all about
Prayers going out for a safe, successful operation!
Not for much longer, anyway.
Semper Fi, and get some!
Of course. When it stops leaking, you know it's time to add oil (substitute liquid of your choice). :-)
Stay safe, and God bless!
Ahhh, I feel much better! Thank you. :-)
Get your own, pal ;)
I'm sure there'll be enough to go around.
Reuter's requires its reporters in Iraq to be members in good standing with the Baathe Party.
Are you a arm chair genereal? Don't you think your spreading the troops real thin if they take on Iran and Syria?
We must be positive. Your acting like we been in Iraq for 120 months! Look at what we accomplished in Iraq. When our guys rolled into Iraq 27 months ago the critics said our troops would be slaughtered. We didn't have enough supplies. Our troops didn't have enough food and water. When Saddam government was removed the populace was going starve and die from dieases according to IRC. Remember the museum? The critics said everything in the museum was stolen but it stored away before the war started by the museum staff. Fallujah...our troops were getting killed and we were losing but our Marines did an excellent job of winning. A elected Iraqi government was formed which critics said it couldn't be done. Now the Iraqi people are creating their own constitution and with all the bombings we are ready to cut and run. The list goes on. We must think positively. Stop being pessimistic because that's very infectious. Remember the use of propaganda? It's alive a well and the MSM is using it right now. You sir,are buying right into it. We only been in Iraq for 27 months. I will start complaining when we reach 10 year anniversary. The DU's who come on FR to see how we are fairing must be pleased with themselves seeing our posts. They are laughing it up and claiming victory. "The pen is mighty than the sword! We accomplished our mission. The freeper's are ready to abandon President Bush, our troops and the Iraqi people.
Mark my words Iraq will be reconstructed as a free nation; just like Japan and Germany after WWII. This country will flourish and be prosperous. In the near future, tourist will come from all over the world to see what Hammarabi built.
Give 'em hell, Devil Dogs!
Prayers going up for all of you and your Iraqi buddies.
SGT C.
Al Asad, Iraq
When the citizen Sunis of Anbar provence have suffered enough destruction of their lives from the hands of coalition forces (both US and Iraqi) they will come to realize ignoring or supporting foreign jihadists in their communities costs more than delivering them to authority.
Pain and suffering bring knowledge and wisdom.
Please pray for my Marine brother Chris. He is involved in this operation. He is the squad leader of his amphivious assault vehicle. Semper Fidelis!
Tomas makes sure to appear on virtually every thread involving our GWOT, and begins to pick apart current operations and strategy. Essentially, if your solution does not involved nuclear detonations, it does not meet Tomas' approval. I've said it many times before - thank God Tomas is not in charge!
Prayers going out for your brother and his fellow Marines. God bless!
Yes, Reuters should be spelled BIAS_LIARS
I think you meant al-Reuters.
Yep...it's al-Reuters.
YES! They're wonderful nostalgia ...
But thank the gods for KBR - In 21 years of Army life, I've NEVER been fed this good!
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