[elfman2]

"Why dont you just respond to what I said? "

Respond to what. You gave me nothing but a temper tantrum.

We don’t like each other. By now we both think of each other as blowhards. Fine, who cares. Let’s go beyond that.

You claim to have the authority (and an interest) to get me into the Pentagon? Let’s go with that.

Background… I didn’t like the ceasefires from the beginning. Always suspected someone above the Marines going wobbly. I promoted that idea here a week into the battle and caught the same kind of shit you’re putting out now.

Then came the USA today interview saying the Governing Counsel and Bremer pressed it. To me that was confirmation. New war, same Vietnameque BS.

Then comes gandalftb, with reports of Marines walking into an ambush and taking several days to pull it together. Now (yesterday) talk from him of borrowing armor from the Army, AC out of area and late to arrive, ect… No marrying that with a timeline, so no telling if the Marines had that before or after ceasefire implemented. There’s a big difference.

I don’t know what you imagine with me going to the Pentagon, but I’d like to know why there’s never been a story from someone quoting USMC commanders in Iraq about their view of the ceasefire. Not their view of the Fallujah Brigade creation, the ceasefire. I’ve looked for it.

I think it’s because it was rammed down their throat. I take it that you think General Conway made the call irrespective of political pressure. Fine put me in touch with someone who knows this personally and is willing to talk on record. Or can find a report of it. AFAIK, no report exists.

Freepermail me. I’ll give you my name and number even my address if they need it, but I’m going to need to make the call to your contact so that I know who I’m speaking with.

You real enough to arrange that?

[Pukin Dog]

I think it’s because it was rammed down their throat. I take it that you think General Conway made the call irrespective of political pressure. Fine put me in touch with someone who knows this personally and is willing to talk on record. Or can find a report of it. AFAIK, no report exists.

Thats it? YOU THINK, therefore it must be so? You see, that is my point. Where is your evidence? You have an opinion. That makes you no better than the Media. What have you got that would deserve a serious inquiry? My challenge to you, is to go beyond your opinion, and provide something deserving serious attention, and I will indeed hook you up with a contact. You can freepermail me that, along with dates that you can be in DC, and then I will find out who would be available on those dates to respond to your questions. But I tell you right now, your opinion alone wont be enough to get you an audience. I challenged you, because I figure will all the crap you are trying to put out here, that there might be something solid behind it. You don't have to put it out here, just mail it to me and we can go from there. Fair enough?

[gandalftb]

By the time the 24 Abrams and the 3rd MAW were operational in-country the "brigade" effort was well underway and offensive inertia was lost. Elfman is right about the lack of comment about the ceasefire. Colonel Toolan, Gen. Conways chief of staff has only spoken around the subject and he is not one to do so. My sense is it's a relief to stand down but it left a bitter after-taste for not getting the hard core hold-outs and heavy weapons.

BTW the heavy weapons weren't just RPGs, they had truck mounted AA that we want badly. We will be fighting the hard-core holdouts again.

BTW Bremer never talks to 1MEF directly but through CentCom: Abizaid who defers to Sanchez who talks to 1MEF. They all put their 2 cents into the mix and lean on Conway/Mattis.

I don't like Bremer, he doesn't respect operational initiative and thinks he's a warfighter at the same time. He needs to go ASAP. al-Sistani won't speak to him and it slowed down our success in Najaf/Karbala/Kufa.

If your arranging a tour of the Pentagon, count me in, I have some questions, I'll behave, should I pack a lunch?