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.

[dougherty]

None of the guys from QEFTSG are fat.

[HAL9000]

CNN - Explosions heard in Fallujah.

[MNJohnnie]

I think what bothers me most about your prescription is it smacks far too much of Vietnam for me. I mean that was the answer back then, reply on technogy and firepower and we could win the war. I suppose you will retort that I am making the other Vietnam mistake, trying to fight an unconventional war with conventional forces. Perhaps. But you hold up the Israeli's as the paragons of this type of warfare. I point out to you that the Israeli's have to do this every day forever. I don't think US Public Opinion will stand for that. I think Bush has to show regular positive progress to maintain Public Support. After the images coming out of Fallujha last week, I doubt you need to worry too much about US Public Opinion thinking we were TOO harsh. You state public opinion is the most important factor, I point out that you can lose public support just as fast if the perception of INACTION is allowed to fester. I have spoken to a lot of Vietnam era protesters. What surprises me is how few are of the John Kerry Hate America wing. Many protested because they felt that if we were not willing to win, we should come home. Allowing the images of Fallujha to go unanswered would be the same mistake Tet was. It allows both the Hysteric Left and the Isolationist Right to spin it as a "defeat" for the Coalition. There has to be some clear, visible response to Fullujha both to suppress Terrorist propaganda claims of "victory" and to bolster US Public Opinion. Finally, I think you have a 9-10 perception of US Public opinion in a post 9-11 world. There have been hysteric ""US Military as Baby Killers" reports coming out both Iraq and Afghanistan by the "News media" What has happened to US Public Opinion? Nothing. See in a Post-9-11 world the average US citizen is a lot less tolerant of those who would aid the terrorists by spreading anti-US propaganda. The average citizen pretty much has this response. "SH*& Happens. If you didn't want that sort of stuff to happen to you, maybe you should not of come over here and killed our people, in our buildings, on our soil"

[Getsmart64]

I saw that.....I do believe the Arabs will join each other against a foreign enemy (us) than fight each other....it makes me think of bringing down the Kurds and supporting them in Northern Iraq...they can be ruthless and let Powell handle diplomacy with Turkey and Syria...after all...we had the Northern Alliance defeat the Taliban....use the muslims against each other....I think the Kurds trust us and will help....

[Getsmart64]

and still nothing on FNC...

[BurbankKarl]

Several killed in Fallujah scuffles
From correspondents in Fallujah
April 5, 2004

SEVERAL people were killed and others wounded today when US troops fought insurgents in the restive Sunni Muslim town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, a witness said.

There was no official confirmation of the report but US forces sealed all the roads leading to Fallujah, barricading residents inside the flashpoint town

"US forces bombed the Goland residential neighbourhood after coming under mortar attack from unknown assailants," Borhan Abed, a resident of the northern Fallujah neighbourhood, said.

Several people were killed, others wounded and some houses hit, said Abed, adding that he went on to the roof of his house when the fighting started and saw US aircraft overhead.

According to Abed the fighting erupted at 4.00 am (10am AEST) and lasted 90 minutes.

[BurbankKarl]

Baghdad-Jordan routes closed

From correspondents in Baghdad

April 5, 2004

THE US-led coalition has shut down the highways from Baghdad to Jordan because of ongoing military activities in the area home to the rebel towns of Fallujah and Ramadi, the coalition said today.


"The highways (1 and 10) from Baghdad to Jordan will be closed indefinitely due to military activities," the US consulate said in a statement.
Residents in Fallujah said several people were killed or wounded early today when US troops fought insurgents in the town, 50km west of Baghdad.

US forces sealed all the roads leading to Fallujah, barricading residents inside the restive Sunni Muslim town.

Four US civilian contractors were ambushed last week by gunmen in the rebel town and later the bodies of two of them were hacked and mutilated.

The US military has vowed a painful retaliation.

AFP

[archy]

I agree, I wish Americans understood we're in a world war, and it's going to take a long time, and cost a lot of good men.

Well, it looks like at least one of the radical muslum mullahs has surrendered:

[McGavin999]

The Marines are telling the media NOTHING.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I'm aware of that. As of now the largest concentration of "bad guys" in Iraq are in Falluja and they don't want to lose it.

[Getsmart64]

You think they are that smart without oustside intervention???

[BurbankKarl]

Good!



>>>The Marines are telling the media NOTHING.

[McGavin999]

No. The outside intervention is coming from Iran with full approval of the Arab states. I think everyone knew this was going to come down. Hopefully, that includes us.

[LdSentinal]

The Marines are going after Ramadi as well?

[Terp]

The Marines are telling the media NOTHING.

As it should be!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Here is the AP IRAQ summary report for the Monday morning newspapers:

Rioting Across Iraq Kills Nearly 60

__________________________

................Meanwhile, U.S. troops on Monday sealed off Fallujah, apparently ahead of a major operation to pacify the city, one of the most violent cities in the heartland of the insurgency against the American occupation. ................

[dobberkcd]

You know,when this is all over ,Id like to see the main streets of Fallujah renamed after the murdered americans.That would stick in some muslim craws.