U.S. targets al-Zarqawi network, kills 16

AP | 6/19/04 | JIM KRANE

[mastequilla]

I believe that we have reached the stage in the War on Terror where a Declaration of War is now required. Although the Congress passes the declaration, for all practical purposes it will not happen unless it is presented to them by the President. Therefore, if you agree that a declaration is needed, please contact President Bush (202-456-1111) and urge him to submit a Declaration of War to Congress

Against who? It would have been easy to declare war on Al Qaeda after 9/11, but now there are so many splinter groups that such a declaration would be meaningless. And what would it achieve?

[SaveTheChief]

Since the U.S. forces left, residents have said that extremist influence in the Sunni Muslim city, west of Baghdad, has only grown.

This is the result of a policy of "containment."

Policies of containment soon lead to implementing policies of appeasement, and we all know how well that worked for the League of Nations.

Can freedom really afford a John Kerry as President of the United States?

[MEG33]

Let's call it an early 4th of July!...;)

[nuconvert]

I noticed that, too.
Let's see Reuters decides to follow suit.

[traumer]

In which case John F. Kerry would announce that he would do the very opposite...

[Mr. Mojo]

So far no buldozers involved...

It would be nice to see the Caterpillars see some action, for sure. .......although you can be sure the UN would throw a shiite fit ;)

[Gorzaloon]

Residents said 20 bodies — including at least three women and five children — were taken for immediate burial Hastily ditched, burying the "Women and children" with their moustaches and RPG's and AK47's, in accordance with Islamic custom, while hospitals reported were bribed and intimidated to report at least two more dead.

Probably no less true. Funny how only SOME people care about women and children, though, and only some of the time.

[Howlin]

I expect all those naysayers to show up here to recant "the do nothing to avenge American deaths" mantra that has been leveled at the White House.

Are you the dreamer..........LOL

[jslade]

A Declaration of War? Against whom?

[tbpiper]

The Bush Administration can't have its cake and it too. If the occupation is over, so is the U.S. authority to detain Iraqis without criminal charges," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch

I think Mr Roth should take the Thanksgiving approach with his commentary and just stuff it.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

"Outraged residents accused the Americans of trying to inflict maximum damaged by firing two strikes — one first to attack and another to kill the rescuers."

Right. If we wanted to inflict a lot of damage we would have dropped a daisy cutter. Probably should have...

[Binghamton_native]

Well, let's let the President's advisors figure out the wording of the declaration. First, we have to have the will to seek a declaration. How would it help? There would be much more serious consequences politically and legally with regard to the type of over the top criticism that is coming from the left. Can you imagine Senator Kennedy spouting off if an official state of war existed? In addition, it would help the public to have a better grasp of the seriousness of the situation. With events as they are in Saudi Arabia, we may soon see as much as a 20% reduction in available oil. That will constitute an emergency that I believe needs to be backed up by a declaration of war.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Exactly. They always report women and children as facts. The message we should be sending to these women (who let their children stay in places with these men) is that you shouldn't hang around with terrorists.

[demnomo]

...including at least three women and five children — were taken for immediate burial, in accordance with Islamic custom, while hospitals reported at least two more dead.

Yeah? Prove it! Usually, these liars can't wait to display the bloodied bodies of their women and children so that they can weep, cry out for vengeance against the US and the Jooos while getting loads of air time on Al Jazeera TV. I think they LIE.

Even if there is a chance of some women and children being killed in the cross-fire, I say go for it, especially if there's a chance to nail Zarqawi. (sic) These 7th Century savages don't think twice before they kidnap and behead infidels or murder women and children in cars, pizza parlors, malls, etc.. The terrorist supporters' cowardly, give-in, left-wing, bleeding heart comrades can oppose these tactics all they want, while they conveniently ignore and/or excuse the barbarism of the terrorist. This is war. It's us or them...

[deport]

The Claim may not be comfirmed but the AP photos indicated something was in the area causing destruction

Sat Jun 19, 9:15 AM ET
Residents of a Fallujah, Iraq (news - web sites) neighborhood walk through the wreckage of their homes which were destroyed in a U.S. airstrike Saturday June 19, 2004. A U.S. military plane fired missiles killing at least 20 and leveling houses in the restive Sunni Muslim city of Fallujah, police and residents said. The U.S. military declined comment. (AP Photo/Abdul-Kadr Saadi)
Sat Jun 19, 9:16 AM ET
Residents of a Fallujah, Iraq (news - web sites) neighborhood walk through the wreckage of their homes which were destroyed in a U.S. airstrike Saturday June 19, 2004. A U.S. military plane fired missiles killing at least 20 and leveling houses in the restive Sunni Muslim city of Fallujah, police and residents said. The U.S. military declined comment. (AP Photo/Abdul-Kadr Saadi)
Sat Jun 19, 9:15 AM ET
A residents of a Fallujah, Iraq (news - web sites) neighborhood sifts through the wreckage of his home which were destroyed in a U.S. airstrike Saturday June 19, 2004. A U.S. military plane fired missiles killing at least 20 and leveling houses in the restive Sunni Muslim city of Fallujah, police and residents said. The U.S. military declined comment. (AP Photo/Abdul-Kadr Saadi)

[TheCrusader]

"Honestly, these reporters come across as wide-eyed babes-in-the-woods-types."

To me they come accross as seedy eyed liberals on a mission to cast doubt on the Iraq war and paint Bush as an insensitive, selfish tyrant who wants 'oil for blood'.

[Binghamton_native]

Why do we on Free Republic have to decide the wording of the declaration? I believe that we have reached the point where we need the declaration in order to make the pricce for divisive dissent greater than it is now. All I'm asking is that we urge the President to submit a declaration to Congress. He and his advisors will figure out against whom.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

It would take a small step in the direction of respecting the Constitution - - - after decades of "police actions" and "executive military actions" ratified by appropriations after the fact.

[onehipdad]

And what's the point of including this?

Meanwhile, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement it would be unlawful for the United States to hold detainees, including Saddam Hussein, after the June 30 power transfer without charging them with crimes.

The U.S. military has said it will continue to hold thousands of prisoners detained since it invaded Iraq last year and that it could do so legally until a "cessation of hostilities."

"The Bush Administration can't have its cake and it too. If the occupation is over, so is the U.S. authority to detain Iraqis without criminal charges," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.

If the author is writing "a coupla things regarding Iraq today", shouldn't he call it that?

[YOUGOTIT]

Question is did they kill the terrorist? I do not believe that there were women and children killed, there is no way to prove that claim but by asking people who will lie to support their terrorist agenda. Of course the AP will write the story to support the terrorist just as they did the 9-11 Commission report. The left-wing fascist news-media will go to any length to dis America, the American military and our war time President. I for one am still waiting for them to admit that they lied about the 9-11 Commission report on Saddam and Al swine