US Marines announce major offensive in Fallujah

AFP | 4/05/04

[kattracks]

US Marines said they had launched an offensive in the Iraqi hotbed town of Fallujah where four US contractors were killed last week and two of them savagely mutilated.

"Our concern is precise. We want to get the guys we are after. We don't want to go in there with guns blazing," said Lieutenant James Vanzant.

The restive town, 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad, has been sealed off and troops were only letting people enter or leave with Fallujah licence plates. An AFP correspondent said US forces had barricaded residents inside.

Marine officers said the operation would last several days and it was not clear if they would seize the centre of the flashpoint town.

Earlier, an Iraqi witness said several people were killed and others wounded when US troops raided the Sunni Muslim town.

"US forces bombed the Goland residential neighbourhood after coming under mortar attack from unknown assailants," Borhan Abed, a resident of the northern Fallujah neighbourhood, told AFP by telephone.

Several people were killed, others wounded and some houses hit, said Abed, adding that he went on to the roof of his house when the fighting started and saw US aircraft overhead.

According to Abed the fighting erupted at 4:00 am (0000) and lasted 90 minutes.

Another witness Basim Khudair, 30, said four Iraqis were seriously wounded when US troops attacked their car near the city.

Food and fuel prices had already started to soar in the blockaded city.

The US-led occupation forces said meanwhile that they had closed the highways linking Baghdad to Jordan that run through Fallujah and the neighbouring town of Ramadi. The roads are normally busy each day with travellers entering and leaving Iraq.

The four US civilian contracters were ambushed last week by gunmen in Fallujah and the bodies of two hacked and mutilated, sending shock waves across the world. The US military has vowed a painful retaliation.

[mhking]

FNC 7A Update: "We've now got you all surrounded. Come out with your hands up!"

[bogdanPolska12]

Yesssssss. Avenge those who were murder. God keep them safe.

Bogdan

FYI

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[Robert_Paulson2]

You home now?
Welcome back.
Pray for the soldiers.
be well.

[justa-hairyape]

Darn, if the US did not have that 'In God we Trust Motto' everywhere, we would be able to get real nasty. Kinda-like the pagan Mongul hordes who got nasty and generated fear in the Islamic defenders way back when. But no, we are civilized and trusting in god. There might be a few examples that need to be set here though. Only an animalistic nature would drive one to mutilate the body of a dead person. That kind of behavior serves no other purpose but to satisfy the animalistic nature of barbarians.

[Jim Noble]

Godspeed all who fight for right and freedom.

[OXENinFLA]

What drives me NUTS is when FOX puts the # of troops on the screen!

[boxerblues]

they put up the actual number?

[OXENinFLA]

1,200

[kattracks]

That kind of behavior serves no other purpose but to satisfy the animalistic nature of barbarians.

And to give the always accommodating media their headlines.

[boxerblues]

Before I left this morning all they were saying was that thousands of Marine's had surrounded the city.

[OXENinFLA]

It was right after 6am EST

[boxerblues]

Loose lips sinks ships.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1111566/posts

FALLUJAH, Iraq — U.S. Marines have begun a major military operation in Fallujah (search), the volatile city in which four American civilians were slain in one of the more grisly displays of violence since the war began last year.

About 1,200 Marines, joined by two battalions of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corp., began surrounding the city with checkpoints. Only vehicles with Fallujah license plates were permitted to enter and exit the city.
< snip>

[bogdanPolska12]

Yes Robert, im in home sweet home.

[Rebelbase]

"Kinda-like the pagan Mongul hordes who got nasty and generated fear in the Islamic defenders way back when."

Ghengis bump.

[PigRigger]

May God be with them.

It appears that we are have now reached a critical point in Iraq. Our actions over the next few weeks will probably dictate what will become of Iraq.

Prayers for our President, his cabinet, and our troops.

[Highest Authority]

The best way to "sanitize" the area is with napalm! The ONLY thing that these animals respect is power and force!

[justa-hairyape]

Good point about the media. But what the Islamo-Fascist dont realize yet is that destroying the WTC has made the American public fairly immune to whatever pictures are now shown on the media. Thousands of Americans were killed on 9/11 and millions of other Americans now realize their very own lifes are on the line. So by acting like Barbarians in front of the world, the islamic rebels have now allowed the US to eliminate all their kind in the Sunni triangle, no matter what the cost. I dont think Bush will worry too much about Kerry, he will take orders from Skull and Bones and self destruct. Nader has no chance. When the WTC collapsed, the Order was directly threatened. This war is guaranteed to escalate now until we all win.

[bogdanPolska12]

NUTS - why they told haw many troops are involved in this operation. Tactical surprise is gone now idiots. They should stick to stories thousands not a real number; let these murders be in guessing mode. They also said new Iraq army is involved in this also with Marines.

Some of these guys in media just can not keep their mouth shot.

God bless you all Marines, stay put guys be on alert and kick serious ass.

Bogdan