Military Force May Be Next Option In Fallujah, Myers Says

DoD-AFPS ^ | April 16, 2004 | Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Military Force May Be Next Option In Fallujah, Myers Says

By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2004 -- Further military action may be necessary in the city of Fallujah, where despite a cease-fire and strained negotiations, insurgents still are shooting at Marines, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during an April 15 news conference in Baghdad.

Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, in Baghdad to meet with coalition military commanders, told reporters that although discussions in Fallujah are ongoing, "I think we have to be prepared and prepare ourselves that there may be further military action."

He said that negotiations in the city are ongoing. "We'll have to see how they play out. They can't go on, I don't think in my mind as a military man, forever," he said. "At some point, somebody has to make a decision on what we're going to do, and we certainly can't rule out the use of force there, again, depending on how the negotiations go."

The general also assured reporters there is "sufficient military force" to deal with both the situation in Fallujah and resistance in the south around Najaf. "That is not the issue, and we will deal with it," he said.

Myers, who was joined at the briefing by the Comined Joint Task Force 7 commander, Army Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, said Marines in Fallujah are obeying the cease-fire, but are being fired upon.

"They can return fire in self-defense, which they do, but they're trying their best to follow the rules of the cease-fire," he emphasized.

The focus in Fallujah has been on radical Shiia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who is wanted by Iraqi authorities and who Myers said is trying to disrupt the stability in the city. "And if they have to kill innocent Iraqi men, women and children, they'll do that," he said. "Certainly they'll attack the coalition; they'll do other things that extremists and terrorists do. And it just can't be permitted," he said.

He said the U.S., coalition and Iraqi forces are committed to ending the attacks by Sadr's "militia and thugs" as well as by holdouts of Saddam Hussein's regime and foreign fighters. Myers pointed out that nobody wants Sadr brought to justice more than the Iraqi Governing Council and other Iraqi authorities.

"This was not a Shiia uprising," Myers said. "Sadr is a marginalized figure, and he's being marginalized more and more every day by his own actions. When the Iraqi people know the story, the full story of how he used his militia to kill Iraqis, I think they'll understand."

In an effort to tell the "full story," Sanchez said his forces are trying to communicate with the Iraqi people that this is "not about the coalition forces against the Iraqi people" and those responsible for the violence are attacking the democratic institutions of the country.

"They're attacking the religious, the political and the security structures of this country in an effort to take it back towards an oppressive era," Sanchez said. "We're communicating that to the people."

Myers also spoke on the issue of troop rotation in Iraq, after news that some 20,000 troops will be held over in the theater for as much as three months. He told reporters that he will rely on his military commanders on the ground to make that determination, and emphasized the decision will be dictated by the security situation in Iraq.

"The duration for that additional capability to be here in Iraq is to be determined," he said. "It will depend on events here on the ground. But I think what it shows is our resolve to see this situation through."

He said the Pentagon is looking at the next two rotations of forces into Iraq and Afghanistan, and is wrestling with how to rotate forces in and out of those theaters.

Meanwhile, Sanchez pointed out that the Pentagon never dissuaded him from asking for additional troops if needed.

"When we have needed those forces, we have asked for them in that time frame, and we have received the support that was necessary for us to execute our mission here on the ground," he said.

Biographies:
Gen. Richard B. Myers
Lt. Gen. Ricardo D. Sanchez

Related Sites:
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Combined Joint Task Force 7

---

[johnb838]

REmember Afghanistan when they'd "surrender" and then come out guns a'blazing? I expect they'll pull those old tactics out of the Taliban playbook. Sheeesh. I haven't seen those tactics since I was a kid playing Cowboys and Indians.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Hila]

What on earth are our leaders waiting for, does it seem that it takes forever to respond to the evil islamists - or is it a matter of politically correct timing? Give it to the murderers now, and stabilize the area, for the sake of the Iraqi people that suffered such atrocities and the lives of our troops that were shed (not in vain).

[Jeff Head]

"We'll have to see how they play out. They can't go on, I don't think in my mind as a military man, forever," he said. "At some point, somebody has to make a decision on what we're going to do, and we certainly can't rule out the use of force there, again, depending on how the negotiations go."

I am ashamed to see our military personnel hamstrung in this fashion...and being subject to continued sniper fire and potshots as they try and deal with ruthless terorist and insurgent animals and their lairs.

I have said it before and will do so again now...the solution to the type of atrocity and resistence that Fallujah and other places in Iraq have bread, as small a minority as they are, is direct and brutal for the combatants and those providing them sanctuary and support.

To whit:

Pull our troops back to the perimeter. Inform the inhabitants and fighters that negotiations are over and that they have 24 hours to evacuate any male under the age of 13 and over the age of 65 and woman and children. Inform them that any who are held against their will or who elect to remain will be on the heads of the insuyrgants and tell them this up front...no bones about it, no further negotiations.

Process those electing to leave out of the city through our checkpoints looking for any known insurgents. Hold any of those who are armed or trying to escape for indefinite internment and intense interrogation.

Offer the same 24 hour period to any male between 13 and 64 who wants to surrender and direct them to a different location. Those showing up there without weapons are subject to indefinite internment and intense interrogation. Armed insurgents are killed on site.

After 24 hours, use MOAB and ARLITE bombing to level the entire place. Then send in one hundred D-9 Cats to level the place out with enough dirt and top soil to effectively bury the dead. Salt the ground and soak it with swine fat and place a sign there in the middle of what is left that reads.

---

"Here stood Fallujah and its insurgents until they committed atrocities against the United States of America and the Coalition Authority.

Now there remains nothing but pig fat and salt.

To all those who elected to escape we say...De Oppresso Liber. To all those who chose to fight we say...Sic Simper Tyranus".

---

IMHO, at this juncture, this is all the miltant Islamics will understand...anything short of this will be viewed as weakness and subject us to continued and increased attacks.

Jeff

[madison10]

Military Force May Be Next Option in Fallujah

DUH. Okay, flame me, but I foolishly thought THAT was the only option.

[Uncle Jaque]

Re the pic you posted on #14;

It's great when ya get 'em to line up like that; one well-placed 7.62 X 51 MM FMJ would take out both o' the nasty buggers!

Of course, I'd rather prefer to see it done with a Hellfire missle, of course...

...Or a MOAB... }B^{D~

Time for a little black "Turban Tossin'" over there, wouldn't you say?

[joanie-f]

Man, do I wish you were making the decisions, Jeff.

I would like someone to tell us when in the history of humankind anyone has ‘negotiated’ with such barbarians and wound up with a result other than having one’s own hands tied for a period of time, until the barbarians have regrouped and hit even harder. (Ask any Russian over the age of sixty what the results of their Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact ‘negotiations’ with Hitler were; or ask anyone with half a brain to name the peace accords that have been signed with Arafat/the ‘Palestinians’ that have resulted in anything but further atrocities being committed against Israel … ).

Every time I hear these cretins called ‘insurgents’ my blood boils. An ‘insurgent,' by definition, is a generally non-belligerent ‘rebel’ whose non-violent actions simply defy a ruling political party/government. These savages are way beyond insurgency. Yet the media have decided to label them as such, and way too many people are picking up on their purposefully mild description of these sub-human monsters.

(Note: These are the same media that are appalled when our Marines close down an Iraqi newspaper that is calling for ‘death to the American pigs’ – because a ‘legitimate’ journalism outlet has been denied its ‘rights of free speech’.)

No insurgent tortures, burns, and mutilates innocent people, and then hangs their decapitated, broken bodies in public while dancing in celebration. That is pure, vile malevolence. No insurgent kidnaps innocent people, and then releases some, tortures others, and brutally murders others, seemingly at random. No insurgent holds knives to the throats of kidnapped missionaries and women, and threatens to burn them alive if conditions are not met.

Barbarians do not (ever) honor peace/ceasefire agreements. They simply use them to their strategic advantage.

We have it within our power to see to it that not one more Marine is killed in Fallujah. We have it within our power to see to it that our supply lines (both military, and those sustaining the Iraqi people) remain uncompromised. And I have yet to hear a better plan to accomplish those necessary goals than yours, Jeff. It’s quick. It’s decisive. And its success is a virtual certainty.

It’s time to stop prosecuting this war with one hand tied behind our back (we employed that particularly masochistic brand of military strategy forty years ago and we’re still suffering the consequences). We’re paying the price for the current insanity with the lives of our men – one, two, three or more a day. And we’re voluntarily tying that hand behind our back for two insane reasons:

(1) We’re afraid of rubbing world opinion the wrong way. We don’t want the ‘cowboy’ Bush adjective resurrected any more than it needs to be (and would ‘jingoism’ be far behind?) Nor do we want human rights groups barking all manner of charges at us.

(2) We’re afraid of giving the domestic screamers, whiners and hand-wringers any more ammunition with which to tar and feather this President and his military advisers. The Ted Kennedys and John Kerrys of this republic would be portraying our military men and women as cold-blooded murderers, and the barbarians who defiantly refused to leave Fallujah during your twenty-four hour grace period as victims of Bush’s unnecessary brutality (and, make no mistake, Halliburton will somehow share complicity, too :).

The screamers and whiners (especially those whose political ideology invariably trumps their concern for the safety of our troops) aren’t fit to shine the shoes of the average American or coalition soldier. So let both the world and domestic screamers scream. They’re doing it anyway. Why not give them good reason, and save several hundred American/coalition military and/or civilian contractor lives in the process.

Your MOAB and ARLITE bombing is exactly what is needed. It’s time for a no-holds-barred retaliation. Self-defense is a basic human right. And the time to be concerned with collateral damage in Fallujah is long past. Evacuate the innocents. Give the barbarians a day to surrender, and then commence leveling.

The only (tiny) change I would make to your brilliant strategy is that I would have the first part of the aftermath sign read:

Here stood Fallujah and the barbarians who once took refuge within. May the ghostly presence of those who committed atrocities against the United States of America and the Coalition Authority serve as a warning to others who would consider following their example.

Thank you, Jeff.

~ joanie

[SiliconValleyGuy]

Kudos for two excellent posts!!!

[Minuteman23]

After 24 hours, use MOAB and ARLITE bombing to level the entire place. Then send in one hundred D-9 Cats to level the place out with enough dirt and top soil to effectively bury the dead. Salt the ground and soak it with swine fat and place a sign there in the middle of what is left that reads.

I'll vote for that. So would anyone else who values American soldier's lives and Iraq's freedom.

[Minuteman23]

It’s time to stop prosecuting this war with one hand tied behind our back (we employed that particularly masochistic brand of military strategy forty years ago and we’re still suffering the consequences). We’re paying the price for the current insanity with the lives of our men – one, two, three or more a day. And we’re voluntarily tying that hand behind our back for two insane reasons:

(1) We’re afraid of rubbing world opinion the wrong way. We don’t want the ‘cowboy’ Bush adjective resurrected any more than it needs to be (and would ‘jingoism’ be far behind?) Nor do we want human rights groups barking all manner of charges at us.

(2) We’re afraid of giving the domestic screamers, whiners and hand-wringers any more ammunition with which to tar and feather this President and his military advisers. The Ted Kennedys and John Kerrys of this republic would be portraying our military men and women as cold-blooded murderers, and the barbarians who defiantly refused to leave Fallujah during your twenty-four hour grace period as victims of Bush’s unnecessary brutality (and, make no mistake, Halliburton will somehow share complicity, too :).

Exactly right!

[Minuteman23]

Thanks for posting this. Great article with great thread comments.

[fedupjohn]

I'm just learning HTML and cannot yet figure out posting pics. I now realize who Sader reminds me of "BOOGER" from 'Revenge of the Nerds'. Someone help me out here.

[Alamo-Girl]

Of course, I would like to see them let the marines "do their thing" but then again I don't know the facts on the ground. But the marines do, so the bottom line to me is whether the marines will leave Fallujah approving of the way the leadership handled their part.

[Robert_Paulson2]

I agree.
except.
they have already been given a week.
time's up.
dresden NOW.please.

God Bless you Jeff.
Unfortunately, the folks in charge are not listening to us.
They ARE listening to the world community.
The same world community that is working to get bush & co. UNELECTED this november.
Go figure.
and cry for America.

I thank God for the backbone America has left.
But fear it is too little... too late.

[Jeff Head]

Joanie, you are dead on.

...and I really like your version of the first line on that sign and will incorporate it into an article I intend to write that includes my recipe for a response in Fallujah.

It is senseless and shameful to sacrifice and spill the blood of our finest there when we do not need to do so. Most Iraqis know what is going down there and most of them would respect and applaud it if we forcefully finished it, after giving those who want to leave clear and unambigous opportunity to do so.

I believe that we would only have to make one or two such examples of these animals and barbarians (as you rightly call them) in order to see the so-called insurgency dry up like a wisp and blow away. My giess is the Iraqis who support us (the vast majority), upon seeing our steely seriousness and commitment to their long-term freedom and their nation, would quickly take care of the rest of it for us. To this point, and proportional to the amount of kit gloves we use with these animals...that majority is still wondering about our long term commitment and questions it IMHO.

[Jeff Head]

Thank you...we must simply do what must be done. It is unsavory and untasteful...but it is war and our enemies have charted and, in fact, the situation demands this particular course.

[Jeff Head]

Amen.

[Jeff Head]

Bush needs to get his ear back to the ground and not worry about the world community, the UN and his detractors.

Proportional to how much he doesn't do that, or to how much he allows foggy bottom to dictate these military responses...our success in Iraq will ebb IMHO.

Let the Marines take care of and finish this business as they know how.

[Jmouse007]

Military force "may" be used.

This mess is turning into President Bush's “Iran Hostage” debacle ala Carter. America is not fighting to win in Iraq, we should have decimated the terrorists in Fallujah et al. The enemy continues to kill our citizens and members of the military as well as shoot down our helos. What are we doing? Instead of setting our troops free do their job we have placed them into a never-ending "holding pattern" waiting for the terrorists and Muslims to "play nice" and by the Marques of Queensbury rules. Our military has lost the initiative due to the President playing PC politics with the "Religion of Peace". He says he does not care about poles or public opinion, if that were the case, he wouldn't be sweating the taking of a few hostages, we would have pressed forward with the attack and won. Now it is turning into Iran in the 70's we sit around weeping and hanging up yellow ribbons while JESSIE JACKSON negotiates. Frankly, I am sick of this and don't tell me "the president knows what he is doing and more than we do".

The president looks weak and to have Jessie jHACKson "negotiating" only makes him look weaker.

The media isn't helping either, making a big deal over the taking of a few people and the death of one and reporting as "Breaking News" one rocket hitting the Sheraton Hotel! We are at war and this stuff has happened in every conflict. We have to stop fretting and weeping and wailing over minor casualties and fight to win this thing or we are going to have done it all for nothing. The Muslim clerics/terrorists are bidding their time and the President has told them how long they have to wait... After June 30, 04 they will take over, because we have not dealt with/killed them and in ten years they will be taking their oil revenue and turning out more terrorists!

I don't want this to happen but it will if the president doesn’t stop playing around and get serious about fighting to win.

[Jeff Head]

See post 44. That's the type of thing we should have done last week...could still do it now.

Proportionally to the extent we do not do this type of thing with the animals like those finding refuge in Fallujah, our success in Iraq will ebb IMHO.