Insurgent Iraqis kill six Marines

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 04/17/2004 | Ron Harris

[Helvan]

HUSAYBAH, Iraq

[Jeff Head]

I believe your premise is flawed.

1st, such an action as that described in post 38 is much more likely to reduce the potential for all out war than instigate it.

2nd, I have more faith in the American people than that. They rallied around Bush after 9-11. Despite the best efforts of the presstitues and the Demos to the contrary...IMHO they will rally around him now.

But that is just my own opinion.

[oceanview]

that kind of action in Fallujah is possible, if its relatively isolated. but if its part of some general uprising in the country, forget it. look the the Fox News video showing today's Shia uprising in what was a relatively peaceful city in southern iraq under British control. If things like that spread, with 100 times the participants, its over. Its not a question of backing Bush, its a question of being able to deal with a general uprising in a country of 26 million people. Its just like the police in a major american city - they can deal with a few murders and muggings and robberys every day. But multiple the normal crime rate by 100x, and what happens?

[Jeff Head]

You are listening to the news media...I am listening to people on the ground there.

This is not a general uprising. The vast majority want us to be successful...they are watching, as I have said, how we handle the same types of thugs who have ruled over them for generations. If we would silence them with force...not negotiatie with them...treat them as we treated the Nazis and Japanes...we would make huge strides. If we continue to equivocate, we will embolden others and our potential allies will cower.

IMHO, now is the time for decisive action with no equivocation.

[oceanview]

I didn't say it was a general uprising right now - I said we have to be concerned that it becomes one, because if it does, we are in big trouble.

[Jeff Head]

...and I believe the best way to keep it from becoming anything similar to that is to act decisively against the Ba'athists, Islamic extremeists and against the terrorists and interlopers from outside Iraq who are stirring the pot. We have a perfct opportunity to demonstrate that in Fallujah, where they have brought it on themselves.

The Iraqi people who are going to stand for freedom need to see it...they need to know we are not going to turn tale and run, or negotiate with these animials...they need to know we are wholly committed beside them. BTW, tens of thousands of them are standing and fighting with us (and unfortunately some are running too, which is what the media focuses on)...but as many or more Iraqis are being killed by these animals as Americans.

Jeff

[SandRat]

[JohnBovenmyer]

Similar things have been done there in the past. First the Mongols and later Timur converted entire city populations, larger than Fallujah, into mountains of skulls. That strategy worked and I'm sure many Iraqis remember such history. We have a long way to go before we become the worst this area has ever seen. However our domestic front isn't like the one the Mongols had so we have to pull our punches somewhat. That doesn't mean we can't punch.

[TomasUSMC]

Some folks say that Bush won't get re-elected if this thing erupts into an all out regional war over there.

This already is an all out regional war. This is a war on Islamist Terrorism. From Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, Syria, the Sudan, New York, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania. It is already Global let alone regional.

What will hurt the President is if we lose the war on terror. And we will lose this war if we continue to hamstring, hogtie, and handcuff our Marines and Soldiers with the same lame rules of engagement that failed US in the past.

The enemy killed burned mutilated and hung Americans in Fallujah, the Leader of Rebellion is in Najaf. We could have taken care of both already, instead the clock is ticking and helping the enemy with every tick tock. Everyday they obtain better weapons, better tactics, gather more information and get closer to grabbing WMDs.

And when that day comes we will wish we had not wasted time.

[Jeff Head]

I agree with your comments regarding the size and scope of the War on Terror...and, that if we are not careful, it will errupt into a larger, more full-scale war.

I have been wanring of this potential for almost 3 years...and am doing it in the form of a book series called, The Dragon's Fury Series.

I am concerned, that there are other nationalities who are watching this entire thing...potentially pulling the strings behind the scenes to inflame it, who will act in concert with it when the times comes that their own ideologies and interests will be maximized.

[Jeff Head]

In dealing directly and forcefully with the Islamic extremeists, Jihadists, terrorists and left-over Ba'athists, we will send them the appropriate message that teaches them and all who harbor them to fear and respect us.

At the same time, we win the friendship, trust and respect of those majority of the people who hope and aspire to freedom and a true constitutional republic of their own that recognizes their individual unalienable rights.

In other words...we will accomplish both for the respective audeinces by inacting something like post 38 envisions IMHO.

Otherwise we will set the stage for more attacks...and potentially set the stage for something much worse, like what I describe in The Dragon's Fury Series of Novels.

[swarthyguy]

BUMP BUMP BUMP.

The military is not in charge.

The administrators and politicians have taken over.

IMO, we stopped in Falluja because that's where, I believe the hostages are being held.

The jihadis have won the Battle of Falluja.

They don't respect us for our weakness. Spin away as much as you want(not you but the administration), but that's the end result of Falluja.

Let's stop worrying about civilian casualties and worry about American fatalities.

[Jeff Head]

Exactly. That's my whole point HERE

[swarthyguy]

Read it Read it Read it :>>.

For the flypaper justification of Iraq to hold, we should be discussing adhoc ordnance shortages.

[Dubya]

Semper Fi