Posted on 11/09/2004 3:11:25 AM PST by Dog
This will be todays thread. Media is in full handwringing mode over some Iraqi unit showing up for the fight.
They're also whining about the potential tens of thousands of innocent civilians still trapped in the city. Funny, I've never heard 'insurgents' described in quite that way before...
I'm tired of the word "insurgents".
They are "terrorists". It can't be prettied-up.
Here's hoping all those who are able will keep the cubicle-bound updated. Yesterday was great.
ping
Could someone post a link to the Day One thread, please? Or just summarize the status of the battle?
NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
November 9, 2004
Release Number: 04-11-26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FALLUJAH OPERATIONS UPDATE
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) launched an assault Nov. 8 against terrorists and foreign fighters in an operation dubbed "Al Fajr," the Iraqi word for dawn.
The combined force is committed to restoring security and the rule of law in Fallujah and removing the threat of terrorism from the area, said Gen. George Casey, commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq.
"The Iraqi people are fighting to throw off the mantle of terror and intimidation so that they can elect their own government and get on with building a better life for all Iraqis," Casey told reporters Nov. 8. "The elimination of Fallujah as a terrorist safe haven will go a long way toward those goals."
Multi-National Forces are hitting anti-Iraqi forces where they show themselves, using artillery and aircraft to hit terrorist positions in the city. In many recent strikes, secondary explosions are noted. This often signifies that ammunition or explosives were at the site that was struck.
At the direction of the Interim Iraqi Government, combined Iraqi Security Forces and MNF forces over the weekend isolated Fallujah and are controlling movement in and out of the city.
The combined forces also moved to occupy key locations to the south and west of Fallujah, supported by MNF ground forces, armor, artillery, close air support and air strikes.
Iraq’s 36th Commando Battalion successfully secured the Fallujah General Hospital on Nov. 7, freeing it from terrorist control and ensuring its availability to provide medical care for the Iraqi people.
In concert with operations in Fallujah, the MNF-I today is also conducting additional simultaneous missions throughout the country that show strong resolve against elements who attack the Iraqi government, the Iraqi people, and the MNF-I.
Although the worldwide media focus is on Fallujah operations, MNF-I continues to conduct stability and security operations throughout Iraq.
In the last 24 hours, the MNF-I conducted more than 1,700 patrols and missions, including searches of sensitive areas, locating and removing weapons caches, finding and destroying improvised explosive devices, and countering mortar and rocket attacks. More than 185 missions were conducted jointly with Iraqi Security Forces.
Operations are being conducted in support of and in full partnership with the Iraqi government. Multi-National Forces also continue to conduct humanitarian and civil military operations to improve infrastructure in many cities and regions.
Multi-National Forces will also continue precise intelligence-based raids to kill or capture high-value insurgents, and to attack non-compliant forces.
In Baghdad, MNF-I continue offensive operations to contact and deny insurgents safe-haven, mortar positions and rocket operations in key areas.
Lastly, Iraqi government and MNF-I sponsored reconstruction work began in the northern part of Thawra, where more than 8,000 people went back to work Nov. 6.
Over the top hand wringing.
Let's hope it's just another report from 'Baghdad Bob'...
The reporter thinks this is the terrorist last stand in this mosque in the Askari section.......it is a neighborhood mosque.
Almighty and eternal God, those who take refuge in you will be glad.
Protect these soldiers as they discharge their duties. Protect them with the shield of your strength and keep them safe from all evil and harm. May the power of your love enable them to return home in safety, that with all who love them, they may ever praise you for your loving care.
Two Roman Catholic churches were bombed out and a mosque is still standing?
Charles Sabine, appearing on Imus's show on MSNBC a while ago, was already going on about the prospect of a lot of civilian casualties.
I heard him....he was practically drooling over the thought.
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Smoke billows from Fallujah, Iraq (news - web sites), as U.S. Army and Marines pounded the city with airstrike and artillery early morning, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004. U.S. Army and Marine units entered the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah through a breach near the railroad station at dawn Tuesday. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus) |
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Mosques are fair game if people are shooting at our troops from them.
Consider..90-95% of the troops now engaged in Fallujah can't legally order a beer back here in the states..
Thanks Dog.
They have had desertion problems with Iraqi troops.
In excess of 200 of them just didn't show up, or slipped away.
Fox has placed the number at 150 who deserted FYI.
Oh my god 150 out of 2,000 didn't show up...its the end of the world as we know it.
FALLUJA, Iraq, Nov 9 (Reuters) - U.S. forces pushed to the centre of the Iraqi city of Falluja on Tuesday, a U.S. military source said.U.S and Iraqi forces thrust into the city after starting a full-scale offensive on Monday night.
I think the Kurdish Special Forces are our best fighters..The rest are kept as "guards" at the rear..(just on what I read.)
WRKO radio in Boston had an interesting Arab analyst on this am. (They have his link on their website, which should be WRKO.com) He was saying that mullahs preach Jihad against the west and the US and that most Arabs have no access to news other than Al Jazeera or street gossip, so they're brainwashed that dying for Allah is great. They don't think there's another option, which is why a democratic Iraq is so important. Iraqi opinion and that of the Iraqi army are changing.
They're fighting not for Paul Bremer and the US now, but for their own country and coming elections...so maybe they won't run away. But tribalism is still rampant(Sunnis, Shiites), and the last thing they need is Baathist(Saddam's thugs)(sp.?), back in power. What we're doing is dragging them into modern life, but we have no other choice. Once al Qaeda gets hold of nukes, they'll use them.
US pushes towards central Falluja
US and Iraqi soldiers have seized the northern third of Falluja from insurgents on the second day of a full-scale assault, the US military says.Troops have been advancing towards the centre, fighting rebels armed with rifles and mortars street by street.
Early on Tuesday the US-led troops reached a key objective early - a mosque in the north part of Falluja.
US and Iraqi officials hope the assault - deeply unpopular with some Iraqis - will help prepare for January's poll.
It is estimated there could be tens of thousands of civilians still in Falluja.
A correspondent in Falluja for the BBC's Arabic service says he can see heavy street-fighting in the centre of the city, with US soldiers moving from house to house.
Some reports say US units have crossed the central highway in the heart of Falluja.
Earlier, a US tank commander said guerrillas were putting up a strong fight in the north-western Jolan district.
"These people are hardcore," Capt Robert Bodisch told Reuters news agency.
"A man pulled out from behind a wall and fired an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) at my tank. I have to get another tank to go back in there."
Sensitivities
The BBC's Paul Wood, embedded with US soldiers - and whose reporting is subject to military restrictions - says US-led forces reached their first major objective, al-Hidra mosque 1km (0.6 miles) into Falluja from the north, early on Tuesday.
The US military said the building was being used as an arms depot and a meeting point for the leaders of the insurgency.
The mosque is surrounded, and Iraqi forces fighting alongside US marines will in due course storm it.
Our correspondent says the US military is intensely aware of local political sensitivities.
In other developments:
There is no indication of casualty numbers from the main assault.
- An indefinite night curfew is introduced in Baghdad
- Iraq's largest Sunni-led political party, the Iraqi Islamic Party, pulls out of the interim government in protest at the Falluja assault
- The US military denies reports that one of its helicopters has been shot down over the city
- The US military says five of its troops were wounded and five insurgents killed in a clash in the neighbouring city of Ramadi
- A militant group vows to attack targets around Iraq in response to the Falluja offensive
- A suspected car bomb hits an Iraqi National Guard base near the northern city of Kirkuk
- Rebels attack police stations in Baquba, north of Baghdad, wounding a number of officers
No way out
One Falluja resident, Fadril al-Badrani, speaking by phone to the BBC, described conditions as like hell and said hundreds of bombs and shells were exploding every minute.
Most of the 250,000 civilians who live in Falluja have fled the city ahead of the offensive.
But 30,000 to 50,000 are estimated to remain there, and their escape routes are closed.
Our correspondent says that despite efforts by US forces to select targets carefully, their use of heavy artillery and tanks is bound to lead to civilian casualties.
The top US commander in Iraq, Gen George Casey, said US and Iraqi troops were facing an estimated 3,000 insurgents inside the city.
Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi gave the go-ahead for the assault.
Asked to comment on the start of the Falluja assault, United Nations spokesman Fred Eckhard said Secretary General Kofi Annan was concerned that the attack could "destabilise the country at a critical point in the preparation for the elections".
Falluja is a predominantly Sunni Muslim city that has been a hotbed of resistance to the US-led occupation of Iraq following the toppling of Saddam Hussein last year.
Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said to be behind the kidnapping and killing of foreigners in Iraq, has urged resistance and said victory will come "in a matter of days".
The Kurds seem to be quite reliable.
Pray for troop safety and good hunting!
Prairie
Surely they are the equivilent to a resistance force?
They are objecting to the continued occupation of their country. Admittedly, if they laid down their arms the elections could go ahead much more smoothly. But, to brand them all as terrorists, when they are clearly not, is wrong IMHO. They are clearly demonstrating as Insurgents and that is what they are.
They are rising in revolt against established authority. This is the dictionary definition. This is what they are doing.
MSNBC: US military is reporting 3 US soilders have been killed in the last 12 hours. Bringing US loses up to 5.
IIRC, a large segment of their group is composed of non-Iraqi forces, brought in to the country by al Quaida. Personally I prefer the term "insurrectionists"
Well...you have segments of Al Queda, segments of Al Zarqawi loyalists and segments of Islamic extremists..
They are executing their own people inside Fallujah and blowing up innocent women and children, Iraqi soldiers and policemen all aver the area..They are beheading innocents.
You can call them minutemen like Michael Moore does..I'll call them TERRORISTS..That is what Allawi called them,too.
When they finish this job I'll buy them all the beer they want.
Like Al Sadr did...3 times?
I don't understand why the Iraqi Government doesn't jam Al Jazeera broadcasts.
MSNBC...Kevin Sites saying we are taking some casualties..His gunner was shot by a sniper..Going hard right now..Great deal of resistance right now.
Listen to Imus whining.....about the Iraqi troops.
Jim M enforcing him..Imus...is anti war.
'Two Roman Catholic churches were bombed out and a mosque is still standing?'
I thought the two bombed out Catholic Churches were in Baghdad, not Fallujah.
They were..
Prayers for those brave soldiers.
There was a CNN radio report from an embedded reporter (sorry, can't remember the name or with what unit he was embedded) and it sounded pretty good--he said they're encountering less resistance than they expected.
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