U.S. Marines Battle Enemy Fighters In Fallujah

Diogenesis, this is what the Sunni Iraqis were holding.

Iraqi Sunnis hold up a poster advertising a purported reward of U.S. $15 million for the heads of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, right, coalition forces commander Lieutenant-General Ricardo Sanchez, center, or military spokesman Brigadier-General Mark Kimmitt in Fallujah, Iraq, 37 miles, 60 kilometers west of Baghdad, Wednesday, April 28, 2004. (AP Photo/Abdul Kader Saadi)

U.S. Marines conduct a house-to-house search operation in a village near the town of Falluja April 28, 2004. Marines launched a fresh assault on the besieged Iraqi city on Wednesday, sending in air strikes and tanks, residents said. (Oleg Popov/Reuters)

281 posted on 04/28/2004 12:08:47 PM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

Tnx. Nuke 'em.

Somewhere near Fallujah.

282 posted on 04/28/2004 12:12:51 PM PDT by Diogenesis (We do what we are meant to do)

btw.. anyone have an update of CEEGAR GUY?

Nothing yet DC. CEEGAR GUY was still at the hospital in Germany the day I talked with his mother.

Some of his guys (from Twentynine Palms) were killed earlier this month. I know that will be bothering him along with his own condition.

283 posted on 04/28/2004 12:28:02 PM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

They do close in live fire training with troops and C130 firing.The military anylyst speaking said it is an experience..but a confidence builder for crews and for soldiers who call in the close fire in combat.

284 posted on 04/28/2004 12:34:35 PM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)

FoxNews:

Sr Military officials report dropping 'several' bombs on 'insurgents'.

More than a dozen violations of the ceasefire.

NE part of Fallujah.

Warplanes fire on targets.

Several Coalition (US Marine) locations attacked.

285 posted on 04/28/2004 12:43:56 PM PDT by TomGuy (Clintonites have such good hind-sight because they had their heads up their hind-ends 8 years.)

We can only hope and pray for more "violations of the ceasefire".....tee hee!

286 posted on 04/28/2004 12:59:36 PM PDT by Badfoil

Fox News:

At lease 10 laser guided bombs and 1 1000 lb bomb dropped on building that the insurgents are shooting from.

MSNBC: A group calling themselves "Double Edge Sword" attacking the Sadr army members.

287 posted on 04/28/2004 1:14:27 PM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

To: bogdanPolska12

God Bless America guys. If you only know how much you are all blessed and what God has given to you. Be at peace all of you.

Thank you for your good wishes! We do know that America is blessed by God, and we are grateful for our freedom! "Of those much is given, much is required."

And thank YOU for Poland's help in this endeavor!

288 posted on 04/28/2004 1:23:15 PM PDT by Abigail Adams

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

not any more, that number has to be way down now.

289 posted on 04/28/2004 1:25:12 PM PDT by oceanview

"Double Edged Sword" That is refered to in this link:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1124905/posts

". . . a group calling itself the Thulfiqar Army, after a two-bladed sword that Shiite tradition says was used by Imam Ali, the martyred son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed . . ."

290 posted on 04/28/2004 1:32:38 PM PDT by Cap Huff

Whatever else they charge him with, I hope they make a point of sticking him with failure to use his seat belt.

291 posted on 04/28/2004 1:34:06 PM PDT by PsyOp (No reading is more necessary than that of Machiavelli…. - Clauswitz, On War, 1832.)

To: TomGuy; MEG33; Eagle Eye; Allegra

Najaf's Shi'ites divided on Sadr's militia

Wed 28 April, 2004 17:23

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - An Arab headdress hiding his face and a "martyrdom-seeker" badge slung around his neck, a man knocks hurriedly on the door of an office of Iraq's rebel Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr.

"I spotted an American checkpoint, give me an explosive belt," he tells a cleric who opens the door in the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf.

The cleric pats the volunteer on the back and asks him to come in.

A U.S. night air raid on positions of Sadr's Mehdi Army militia that killed dozens of fighters just north of Najaf on Monday has stoked anger and defiance among supporters, many of them unemployed young men.

"Every day the number of martyrdom-seekers is multiplying and we keep holding them back. But when the time comes, those Iraqis will be human timebombs," Qais al-Khazaaly, Sadr's main lieutenant, told Reuters.

Muslim fundamentalists call suicide bombers "istishadiyeen", those who seek martyrdom.

"The Shi'ite readiness for martyrdom defending their holy cities and leaders could be new on the Iraqi arena, but it was the Shi'ites who drove the Israelis out of southern Lebanon using such operations," Khazaaly said.

On the streets of the holy city, far fewer Mehdi militiamen were visible than at any time since Sadr supporters rose up against U.S.-led forces in Baghdad and a number of southern cities three weeks ago.

"We don't have any shortage of fighters," Khazaaly said. "Lots of men come from all over Iraq to support us and fight with us, especially from the tribes around Najaf.

"We keep telling them we have sufficient numbers now."

DESERTIONS?

But across the political divide in the city, the Mehdi militia is seen in a different light.

Officials from other Shi'ite parties say many militiamen are deserting the ill-equipped Mehdi Army, scared away by the heavy casualties they suffered in the latest clashes.

"Most of these people are coming from Sadr City," he said of the impoverished Shi'ite Baghdad suburb named after Moqtada's assassinated father, from where the cleric draws huge support.

"They don't have any military training, they can chant in support of Sadr all day, but can they last in the battlefield? I doubt it," said a senior officer of another Shi'ite militia.

Police are back on the streets, but not around the shrine of Imam Ali, whose descendants founded the Shia branch of Islam. Sadr offices there are protected by men armed with AK-47 rifles and rocket launchers.

"We were assured by other political parties that their militias will guarantee our safety if the Mehdi people decided to attack us," said a police captain who declined to give his name.

Many people in Najaf show scant enthusiasm for Sadr as they see violence driving away religious pilgrims and hurting the local economy. Most follow the more moderate and the most senior cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

"We are tired of what is happening here. Look around you. Most of the shops are closed," said Ali Khalid al-Unezi, a shopkeeper who depends on pilgrims from Shi'ite Iran.

"No more than a dozen Iranian tourists are in the streets. Who will pay the bills? Is it Moqtada or the Mehdi army? We will all be happy the day they are driven out of our city."

292 posted on 04/28/2004 1:48:09 PM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

It says:

"All your Jihadis are belong to us! - G.W."

293 posted on 04/28/2004 1:52:41 PM PDT by PsyOp (Don’t wish ill for your enemy; plan it! – De inimico non loquaris sed cogites. – Syrus, Maxims.)

Thanks for the link Cap Huff

Here is one from today, a New York Times article.

U.S. Pummels Rebel Positions as Fierce Clash Shakes Falluja

Television on Tuesday showed the bodies of the militiamen being loaded into a truck in Najaf. Many bodies were dressed in the robes and checkered headdresses that are common to many Iraqi men. Their dress was another indication that the tide might be turning against Mr. Sadr. Before the highway battle, reports from Najaf told of his fighters shedding their telltale black clothing after the city was littered with flyers from a hitherto unknown group, the Thulfiqar Army, threatening to kill Sadr militiamen if they failed to leave. Najaf residents said five militiamen were shot dead within 48 hours.

294 posted on 04/28/2004 2:05:27 PM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

Why did the US picked UN senior advisor Brahimi? Please,no UN involvement. I wouldn't have the UN to pass out box lunches...they will muck up that too! Hey UN, can you solve the Iraqi problem? 12 years with alot of talk and no solutions. Send in the UN Peacekeepers! Yea, sure! It would be like sending in the clowns!

295 posted on 04/28/2004 2:12:26 PM PDT by Milligan

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, shows a picture of what he claims to be inside a mosque in Najaf, Iraq, after a briefing with senators on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, April 28, 2004, in Washington.(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

296 posted on 04/28/2004 2:37:58 PM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

I appreciate your insights a lot Rokke. Thanks for your service.

Prairie

297 posted on 04/28/2004 2:46:28 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (New mantra for the Democrats: "Anyone but Kerry!")

Loaded for bear. Smiles at meals through dirt and sunburn. Loaded for bear. Spring in their steps. Did I mention loaded for bear?

Ahh, thank you for that report about our guys and their morale. I appreciate reading it very much.

Prairie

298 posted on 04/28/2004 2:54:59 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (New mantra for the Democrats: "Anyone but Kerry!")

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, shows a picture of what he claims to be inside a mosque in Najaf

He also mentioned that:

'you won't see that in the news'.

299 posted on 04/28/2004 2:56:38 PM PDT by easonc52

He also mentioned that: 'you won't see that in the news'.

Well I think Rummy is a little off on that due to the fact that I saw that picture yesterday on one of the media outlets I don't remember which one and who was showing it.

300 posted on 04/28/2004 4:38:19 PM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

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