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

Fox News

[Dog]

Just broke on Fox

[BushMeister]

Can't understand how our forces got caught with their pants down! God protect them!

Well, we're not sure yet how bad the surprise is. It's impossible to know everything your enemy is planning. We can just hope that these attacks will be repulsed with the minimum loss of coalition life, and that the defeat of our enemies will be decisive enough to give pause to others who might join them.

[fatima]

Ragtime Cowgirl,Thank you for the prayer,I have been watching this thread all day,as you know my granddaughter Karen just returned last night from Iraq and my heart is with all there.

[Melinator]

"Some of the fighters are young guys, the equivalent of dope peddlers, who do this for money."

hopefully he's not talking about the guns who are hired out as "U.S. civilians"

[r9etb]

Just a question, mind you -- if the fight's still going on, how does CNN have these figures? I prefer to wait until thing settle down before I start paying attention to the numbers.

[RightWingMama]

Does anyone really think that the MARINES are not prepared to deal with a bunch of thugs in scarfs?

Good words, Mr. Dog. You always bring sanity to those of us (me) who are really nervous.

[Big Horn]

You are right, plus the fight is our kind of fight,out in the open.

[Gulf War One]

Ah, you see, Rose, that's just the thing. Battles aren't so much about weaponry, they are about the will to combat.

I'm not sure this actually occurred -- at least not in the manner I infer from your comment -- but if they "got caught with their pants down" it is because in battle one is up against the mind of the other combatant.

If they wanted to surprise us, I'm sure they'd find a way. It's how we are deployed, and how we react, that counters the surprise.

[Miss Marple]

I would appreciate it if you would not assume that everything is going to hell in a handbasket. It seems like every post of yours is quite negative.

<You don't know what is going on, so kindly calm down, please.

[Polybius]

I do not object to intelligence gathering. However, I do take issue with the execution unlawful combatants.

Are you sure you are reading things correctly?

Unlawful combatants: Defined by the Rules of War as those who wage war without uniforms, without carrying arms openly and/or who willfully target civilians.

Examples: The German commandoes who were captured in American uniforms during the Battle of the Bulge and executed. Iraqi jihadis who fight while posing as civilians or who use human shields and who can be executed rather than be classified as POW's if they are caught while still alive.

Are you sure you mean to say that you are against the Rules of War stating that they can be executed?

The original question is why go to a known terrorist's house and capture him instead of simply dropping a JDAM on his house.

The answer was that the terrorist could have a gold mine of intelligence information that can be very useful. Saddam, for example, was captured with information provoded by one of his henchman that was captured instead of just killed.

If the terrorist deserves killing after interrogation, the Rules of War provide for that as they allow the execution of unlawful combatants. Example: The execution of Nazi and Japanese war crimminals after the end of World War II.

[Travis McGee]

Getting all of the fanatics to charge straight at our machine guns is a very good thing.

Just like swarms of mosquitos flying into a purple bug zapper light.

[r9etb]

MAJOR COMBAT

Sorta like the "huge explosions" of several months back....

[Pukin Dog]

My point is that our intel apparently did not prepare for this widespread spate of attacks.

Based on what?

Our Intel is supposed to predict each time a crazy Cleric wants to get his name in the paper by sending OTHERS out to die on his behalf? Come on.

Before you can have effective counter-insurgency, you have to have insurgency first. No Intel is going to tell you when the natives are going to revolt over the ramblings of some nut.

They will be burger by morning. That is what matters.

[RoseofTexas]

Please lift up my cousin Mark and our pastor's son Shannon who are probably in the thick of things there,in prayer!! Their parents are extremely anxious and worried sick! God build a shield about our combat guys!

[not-alone]

I have been praying and will continue

[ScaniaBoy]

According to Debkka the hardcore following of Sadr number around 3000. Coalition already reports 130 enemies killed in action. Assume a similar number wounded (which must be conservative) that means already a tenth of his numbers have been put out of action.

[Dog]

CNN: The ATTACKERS in AR Ramadi ARE NOT SADR'S FOLLOWERS...

[kabar]

Much of this talk about the division between Sunnis and Shites is overdrawn. There are plenty of Islamic countries where the Sunnis and Shites live in harmony with one another. I am sure that they served together in the Iraqi army. The radical elements of both sects, and they are a distinct minority, can be expected to work together to drive out the coaltion forces and take the reins of power. Khomeni hijacked the revolution in Iran even though the mullahs were a minority.

[GrandEagle]

Please lift up my cousin Mark and our pastor's son Shannon
DONE!! And Continuing...

[RobRoy]

I've always wondered, who goes out to count the dead on the enemy side?