Military Commanders’ Decisions in Fallujah Overridden by Politicians (CONFIRMED)

Fox Live Broadcast / USA Today Interview ^ | 5/3/04 | Jim Michaels

[elfman2]

Freepers have been hotly debating whether politicians or military commanders made the decision to cancel the Fallujahn offensive.

Today Fox News Live’s Jon Scott (I believe) interviewed Jim Michaels (USA Today Reporter) just back from Fallujah. I transcribed the relevant portion of the interview. In summary he said that the Marines were told to stop the attack by Administrator Bremer under pressure from the Iraqi Governing Council.

MICHAELS – “No one [in the Marines] was happy with the cease fire. The American contractors were killed.

“They got the order to go in, as we know, on a big offensive. They were in the offensive for whatever, seven or eight days and boom the politicians said no, hold back, there’s too many casualties.

“The governing council, the Iraqi governing council, was really upset. They went to Mr. Bremer. Mr. Bremer in turn sort ‘a put in the order to hold back.

“While they were in this cease fire meanwhile the insurgents were in there, the insurgents were in there rearming re-supplying you know, taking advantage of of the lull in activities, so they were in a real bind here, and they really had no choice, they say, except to come up with the idea for a Fallujah Brigade.

“Otherwise these guys would still be in there and the ceasefire would still be going on, and these talks that they were having were going nowhere. The sheiks (sp?) were just kind ‘a sipping tea with coalition officials and were nowhere, It was just getting nowhere at all. “

SCOTT –“So very quickly Jim, Do the bad folks in Fallujah think that they’ve won?”

MICHAELS – “They do indeed! They’re running around the past couple of days, celebrating and saying you know that they’ve fought things to a stand still. They’re really taking a propaganda victory out of this. “

“They’re really running around saying, you know, they fought the American forces to a standstill. You know they’re pushing it for all it’s worth.”

SCOTT –“So how does that effect their overall strategy to win the hearts and minds of the the Iraqis - the fact that they’re claiming a victory in Fallujah?

MICHAELS – Well pol… It doesn’t help. And it’s one of the biggest fears that the Marines have is that a week, 10 days down the road, this things going to continue to snowball, and and these guys are going to claim victory, and it presents a BIG propaganda problem for the American forces there. It its a big risk.

"The Marines said that they had no choice, that they were in a stand off and the ceasefire whas going nowhere."

[GraniteStateConservative]

Jim Miklaszewski reported that the Pentagon guys asked him what the story was going to be about tonight-- how those guards lost the war for us? This is seriously bad and the Pentagon knows it.

[FreeReign]

The military doesn't take orders from Mr. Bremer.

You follow the order of Mr. Bremer when the CIC’s word is filtered down to you that you cooperate with him. If his wishes morph into your orders, whatever the path, you take orders from Bremer.

You follow the order of your superior.

[GraniteStateConservative]

If it doesn't come from Cheney, it's not true. You missed that memo?

[GraniteStateConservative]

I don't have a problem with whistleblowers like this. This crap is uncalled for and I could care less whether it's Stalin who points it out.

[FreeReign]

[elfman2]:Politicians decide on objectives and parameters.

[txrangerette]:Last night at a rally in Michigan, President Bush stated to a crowd of thousands & assembled media that FALLUJAH & NAJAF will be dealt with by American forces if necessary, but we're first giving Iraqis a chance. His words were very careful, explicit & clear.

[elfman2]

"[elfman2]:Politicians decide on objectives and parameters. [txrangerette]:Last night at a rally in Michigan, President Bush stated to a crowd of thousands & assembled media that FALLUJAH & NAJAF will be dealt with by American forces if necessary, but we're first giving Iraqis a chance. His words were very careful, explicit & clear. "

Too bad they weren’t clear enough to both direct the Marines charging into Fallujah promising to crush insurgents with overwhelming force and direct the local politicians who had to power to stop them.

[norton]

Absolutely agree with the post: "Seems simple: We were prepared to go in, guns blazing. The Iraqi Governing Council had reservations about that. In deference to the Council, we backed off a major offensive. Why is there a fuss about the reality that any option in Iraq is difficult, complex, and has many ramifications? It's easy to sit in front of a computer on FreeRepublic and argue that we should flatten the miserable place....?"

We want Iraqis to take responsibility & the only way to do that is to give them responsibility & to consider their concerns valid when they do step up to the plate.

If the Iraqi brigade does fail, which it might and for numerous reasons, US forces should not have to go house to house after all - the response is much more likely to be the 'shock and awe' we've heard so much about.

[LS]

The two don't relate to each other at all. IF you are making the argument that the military effort was underfunded, that's one debate. (I think you're wrong---it was clear that Bush told the military, esp. in Iraq, not to go until it had everything it needed).

But to say that there is some relationship between tax cuts, which give the goverment MORE REVENUE, and insufficient military spending is just off base.

Moreover, EVERY, and I mean, EVERY comment I've seen from Sanchez or Abazaid or Franks (when he was in charge) says that they had everything they needed and DON'T need more men. So the fact is that this war has been pretty well planned (the Turkish thing was a screwup, but we did all we could). It's a DEM-sounding argument that people "aren't making enough sacrifices." Well, right now WW-II-type "sacrifices" aren't needed and would be superfluous.

[B4Ranch]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1129258/posts
"Foreign fighters in unstable Fallujah"

[Proud Legions]

I'll bet you are right!

[verity]

Been there; done that!

[Proud Legions]

I'm with you. One of the best underreported stories was a couple of weeks ago when the Marines were attacked, and they took out all 40+ attackers without losing a marine. (I know it was on FR a lot, but made only a mild blip on the news channels).

You are right about the body count business, but I liked it those ratios anyway!

[Joe Hadenuf]

Between Falluja and the burgeoning prison scandal, we have a problem, Houston.

A big problem, as Arab TV show thousands of these freaks celebrating their victory in Falluja.

Never thought I'd see that.

[Proud Legions]

Hea, that's what I meant. Give a guy a break so late at night! I was rereading them both last month and got my brain all tied up in knots (it is happening with increasing frequency these days...must be the water).

[verity]

Upon further reflection, I must acknowledge that, in a perfect world, your methodology cannot be faulted.

[elfman2]

"Been there; done that!"

I have no idea what that or your next reply means.

[Proud Legions]

Clausiwitz or Sun Tzu...oh, my head hurts.

[Proud Legions]

Wow...this group can get pretty vicious with each other over this topic. Seeing as how we are all just guessing (albeit I would like to think educated guessing!) perhaps some should not argue so adamantly until we see it play out a bit.

[ZULU]

So, WHICH "Politicians"???

Colin Powell ???

[ApesForEvolution]

I really hate the 'I told you so' thing, but I TOLD YOU SO!

More BS from the Stupid Party.

I'll see you all this Fall. Maybe. Over and out. God bless.