Heavy Fighting in AR Ramadi Iraq~~~ Sadr's fighters have attacked US Forces.

Fox News

[Dog]

Just broke on Fox

[BushMeister]

We are arrayed like this to avoid presenting high value targets like barracks or dorms would present. Remember Beirut and Khobar. To do this right, our guys need pin point and fast tactical support or they are dead in short order. You can't fire when you can't lift your head.

Yes, I agree. And that was my point, that caused a lot of disagreement on this thread. I was airing a worry that the tactical air support might have not been as "robust" or quick as it should have been. And I later speculated that the Fallujah operation might have distracted the Marines from other concerns. We don't know.

This dispersal of forces presents opportunities to the enemy, and if they're game, they can take advantage of vulnerable pockets of our troops. My point about the 70 attackers is that 70 guys armed with AKs and RPGs can cause a lot of hurt, especially if they get a little bit lucky, and have the element of surprise on their side.

That article about Bremer trying to incite these sort of battles is very interesting.

[Dane]

Armchair generals make me sick

And there are plenty of them on FR.

There should be a disclaimer with all the armchair warriors, such as,

"I have never been in the miltary but I think am greater than MaCarthur and Patton put together when I post on FR".

[txradioguy]

"If the Marines were turned loose with everything they have we wouldn't have twelve dead Marines - we'd have a thousand dead Iraqis."

You're wrong there Tex. Even the most elite units take casulties because even the worst shooting bad guys get lucky. The Marines have lost 12 but the last I saw al-Sadr's guys have lost at least 130. That's a damn good ratio if you ask me.

From dealing with the Iraqi's they are bad shots at best with an AK so the ones the Marines that have been killed dies because of mortars and RPG's. Area weapons that don't require you to be a good shot.

[threat matrix]

I like the Quizno's right next to Kuwait!

[Miss Marple]

I am an armchair Mrs. Miniver. I root for the troops and work in the garden. And pray.

[vbmoneyspender]

I don't think you can assume that some aren't helping out. Apparently we have been getting good info from the locals about who the killers were that attacked our people in Falluja, plus you can't forget about people like that Iraqi doctor that helped save Jessica Lynch. Also, you have to remember that the Iraqi police have suffered alot of deaths over the past several months as a result of the actions of the Jihadists.

[justanotherday]

Where are you located?

[Cuttnhorse]

It was a large gold-copper mine...the company I work for is closing it down and I manage the construction part of the closure. I was an exploration geologist before getting into construction management...we must be versatile.

[Ramius]

Just exactly the response the dems and the terrorists are hoping for.

I happen to think that the Marines know what they are doing and have been given whatever they need to do it. There will be casualties. It's war.

I only worry about the nervous nellies that seems to think that war is now so clean and antiseptic that we should never expect casualties. That's a really good way to lose wars.

[Cold Heat]

he doesn't swoon and slobber over the Hollyweird assclowns like Clooney, Penn, Robbins..............

I agree, but I find this of little importance.

He does it to make people think he is conservative. He is far from it in reality.

But, I guess that is what makes ratings........also makes his show totally unimportant.IMO

(But I suppose I am preaching to the choir in this case:-)

[Cuttnhorse]

I'm about 6-hours north of Santiago...then east very near the Argentina border.

[arasina]

O'Reilly is sounding like Rose of Texas.

O'Reilly's the Crabgrass of Long Island.

He is so full of himself tonight. Wondering why he didn't get a Peabody Award when Bill Moyers did. Thinking he comes across as being Mr. O'Toughguy about the war in Iraq but he doesn't know what he is talking about.

[Ramius]

...and yet here you are on the Internet. Just damn...

and I got users that can't figure out how to get online from a Hilton in the middle of New York City. [sigh]

[justanotherday]

Thank you.

[MEG33]

Thank you,your grace.

[McGavin999]

I really don't know what O'Reilly thinks the Iraqi people can do. If they go out into the streets with their guns, how do our guys know who is on what side? They could get killed and they know it so they stay home and keep their heads down. It's best they stay out of the way right now.

[Cold Heat]

Shades of VietNam...........

No way! Not yet anyway!

More like shades of the Guadalcanal cleanup that was the most dangerous and costly cleanup ever, after the battle was fought and won.

[arasina]

O'Reilly will be saying he wants to duke it out with Rumsfeld by the end of the program. Who appointed you Secretary of Defense, Bill Blowhard?

[Dane]

I am an armchair Mrs. Miniver. I root for the troops and work in the garden. And pray

I never saw the movie in its entirety. Saw the last half I believe on AMC. Today that movie would be considered "jingoistic" by the liberal elite.

[TexKat]

That is one thing Ailes should do right away - his hosts should not be able to hawk their books, their shirts, mugs, door mats, none of that crap.

I don't have a problem with the factor gear, since he said that 100% of the proceeds go to charity. (Perhaps someone needs to check that out.

But the bookwriting, and book pushing has gotten to be too much. So far what I've seen of O'Reilly and Hannity, neither one is an authority on anything other than running their mouths.