Marines Encircle Fallouja (Operation Valiant Resolve commencing)

LA Times ^ | 4-4-04 | Tony Perry and Edmund Sanders

[BurbankKarl]

FALLOUJA, Iraq — Thousands of Marines surrounded this anti-American stronghold early today in preparation for a complex raid to retake control of the city and apprehend those responsible for last week's slayings of four U.S. security contractors.

The highly anticipated action, dubbed Operation Valiant Resolve, was expected to be one of the biggest military offensives since the fall of Saddam Hussein's government a year ago.

All roads leading to this city of 300,000 were cut off and barricaded with tanks and concertina wire. Working through the cold and windy desert night, under a large moon, Marines set up camps for detainees and residents who might flee any fighting. Before dawn, several Marine positions were hit by mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Bursts of automatic gunfire could be heard throughout the city.

[B4Ranch]

I wonder if our ammo has been properly annointed with hog's blood?

[Fledermaus]

This wouldn't be a problem is those worthless Turks had of let us invade from their country instead of sucking up to the French.

I hope they pay a high price for their cowardly actions.

[McGavin999]

In an interview Sunday, Mishaal warned that a U.S. strike would be a grave mistake. "It is only going to deepen the gap between the two sides," he said. "Violence generates violence."

True, until they are all dead, then it stops.

[Fledermaus]

Yes we do. Entire Marine divisions replaced the 101st and 82nd Airborne.

[MNJohnnie]

Actually according to the "news" that was a statement by and Iraq clan head. Sorry, since when do we take the boasts of our enemies as "news"? Did we listen to Nazi propaganda in WW2? They want to fight, well they got one. Same mistake they made on 9-11, thinking we would just take it. Funny how American enemies keep underestimating us.

[LdSentinal]

I wonder if Al-Douri (#3 on the 55 Most Wanted List) is somewhere here.

[Travis McGee]

I hope that they have every trick available, but I'd expect to see women and children approaching our troops for help, and exploding. And so on.

[MNJohnnie]

Heavenly Father, we return to give You thanks that the battle is being waged ... be the Hand of protection that covers our fighting force ... be the Victor in battle ... let no one who would slaughter the innocent rise up again. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen ...

Amen!

[piasa]

I'm praying that we're real lucky...

I wonder if the press is holed up in Fallujah waiting to 'JohnKerry' all of our troops or if they left after they got their wanna-be Somalia footage the other day?

[John Lenin]

Prayers out and kick some ass!

[SBprone]

The way I understand it the Marines only have to bite off a slice at a time. After they take each slice and turn it into unarmed civvies, a few EPWs and a few corpses then they bite off another slice. The last few slices should have most of the sh*theads in them which would lessen concerns about collateral damage.

At what point do the Sunnis mass their forces and fight effectively? My guess is never.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I like that statement from Kimmitt!

[piasa]

Exactly. would be a shame to bag some al jazeerah reporters, wouldn't it?

[RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS]

Look Here

[txrangerette]

Fox has Geraldo & Kobe Bryant...

[sissyjane]

UMM.....If somethig is really happening, why is nothing on the wires or cable t.v.??

I'm keeping my fingers crossed, that we teach those jihadists what we can do!!

[church16]

It's so easily turned into a worldwide propaganda defeat for our troops. No matter how careful we are, it's likely to be seen on CNN and Al Jezeera as rampaging Nazi tanks driving over orphanages.
Remember how they fabricated the "Jenin Massacre" etc? Expect worse here, media treatment wise.


Response; Honestly, who gives a sh**? We've already lost the PR battle, lets win the war then let the dopes at CNN and Al Jazeera figure out how to 'splain it. I think you are correct, but I just don't see how the "world news" could attempt to make us look any worse, as much of a lie as it is.

[Getsmart64]

Dude...why do you slam me??..you are the one worried about public opinion....bet you are a Timmy Russert fan...and dare I mention larry King...like has been stated NUMEROUS times before on FR...if camera were there on D-Day....or battle of the Bulge......or Anzio Beach....people like you would cry foul..people are dying!!!.....this is war...and people die in war....I am willing to die for my country in war....that is my profession......what is yours??...are you a slave to the almighty dollar??.....which is what me thinks...chicken shits like you would rather have other peopel fight your battles...I can imagine what kinda little kid you were on the playground in school...

[Travis McGee]

I'm sure Al Jezeera is there. CNN will run their stuff.

[mfccinsd]

That's the number (2500) I heard on the Southern CA news 40 minutes ago when they did a "breaking news" alert saying that there were 2500 Camp P marines surrounding the city, with many insurgents killed and one marine. Wasn't sure if that meant 2500 out of the much larger 20,000 that has been circulating, and that those were the "locals" or...? But they didn't say that that was the case...although who knows, with local news, what percentage of the details they got correct.